The 'Cressy' class of armoured cruiser was laid down in 1897. H.M.S. 'Cressy' was launched in 1899 and displaced 12,000 tons, was 472 foot long with a 69½foot beam, she was armed with two 9.2in. guns in turrets fore and aft, 12 x 6in guns; 12 x 12pdrs; 3 x 3pdrs and two 18in. submerged torpedo tubes, she was powered by a 21,000hp triple expansion engine capable of 21 knots. She was sunk off the Dutch coast in September 1914 by U9 coming to the assistance of her sister ships, the 'Aboukir' and 'Hogue' of the Seventh Cruiser Squadron, who had also been torpedoed by this U Boat.