Talk:HMS Curacoa (D41)/GA1

GA Review
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Reviewer: Biblioworm (talk · contribs) 23:48, 21 July 2016 (UTC)


 * I was not sure if the original nominator was still interested in this article after they did not respond when I notified them about this review a few days ago. It is general practice for reviews to be completed within a week unless expressly extended, so I have gone ahead with addressing the issues you have raised. Please let me know if there's anything else that requires attention in order for this GA review to proceed. Thanks, Mkdw talk 20:24, 26 July 2016 (UTC)
 * Hi . Thanks for making the corrections; I'll look over them and finish reviewing the last section. Biblio (talk) WikiProject Reforming Wikipedia. 20:55, 26 July 2016 (UTC)

Lead

 * Briefly assigned to the Atlantic Fleet in early 1919, Curacoa was deployed to the Baltic in May to support anti-Bolshevik forces during the British campaign in the Baltic during the Russian Civil War, but struck a mine and had to return home for repairs. - This sentence is a bit long. Perhaps the last part of the sentence (starting at "but") could be made its own sentence starting with "However".
 * ✅ Mkdw talk 15:56, 26 July 2016 (UTC)

Design and description

 * The C-class cruisers were intended to escort the fleet and defend it against enemy destroyers attempting to close within torpedo range. - I think "come within torpedo range" would be slightly better than the current wording.
 * ✅ Mkdw talk 15:58, 26 July 2016 (UTC)


 * ...Curacoa reached her designed speed from 40,428 shp (30,147 kW). She carried 935 long tons (950 t) tons of fuel oil. - I'm a little confused by the "from"—what does "from" mean in this context? Does it basically mean "using 40,428 shp", "at 40,428 shp", or something else? Also, "tons" is repeated ("long tons tons") in the second sentence.
 * ✅ It essentially means at 40,428 shaft horsepower she was able to reach her designed speed. Mkdw talk 20:12, 26 July 2016 (UTC)


 * While identical in number to the Caledons, the layout was considerably improved by moving the gun formerly between the bridge and fore funnel to a superfiring position over the forward gun with wider firing arc than in its old position, one was aft of the rear funnel, and the last two were in the stern, with one gun superfiring over the rearmost gun. - I'm afraid this sentence is far too long. It must be broken up somehow.
 * ✅ I hope this is better while still preserving the technical content. Mkdw talk 16:02, 26 July 2016 (UTC)


 * The torpedo armament of the Ceres's was identical to that of the Caledons... - I think "Ceres ships" would sound more natural than "Ceres's".
 * ✅ Mkdw talk 16:06, 26 July 2016 (UTC)


 * The Ceres class was protected by a waterline belt: 1.5–3 in (38–76 mm) thick and had a protective deck that was 1 in (25 mm) thick over the steering gear. - The colon is not necessary. The phrase "over the steering gear" would sound better were it placed immediately after "protective deck".
 * ✅ Mkdw talk 16:06, 26 July 2016 (UTC)

Construction and career

 * Curacoa, the fourth ship of her name to serve in the Royal Navy and named to commemorate the capture of the Dutch island of Curaçao in 1807, was ordered in March–April 1916 as part of the Repeat War Programme. - I think the middle clause (between the two commas) should be made a separate sentence placed after the first one.
 * ✅ Mkdw talk 16:11, 26 July 2016 (UTC)


 * Sometime in 1918 a pair of 2-pounder (40 mm) Mk II "pom-pom" light AA guns were installed. Comma after "1918"
 * ✅ Mkdw talk 16:11, 26 July 2016 (UTC)


 * The following month, however, she was deployed to the Baltic as part of the British intervention in the Russian Civil War in support of the White Russians against the Bolsheviks. - Comma between "intervention" and "in"
 * ✅ Mkdw talk 16:11, 26 July 2016 (UTC)


 * On 7 May Rear-Admiral Walter Cowan transferred his flag to the ship from her half-sister Caledon. - Comma after "May"
 * ✅ Mkdw talk 16:11, 26 July 2016 (UTC)


 * Ten days later, the ship was en route from Helsinki to Liepāja, when she struck a mine with her stern, 70 miles (110 km) east of Reval (now Tallinn). - Remove comma after "Liepaja"
 * ✅ Mkdw talk 16:11, 26 July 2016 (UTC)


 * One crewman was killed and three injured by the explosion, while Cowan, who was taking a bath at the time, was dumped out of the bath, running to the bridge dressed only in an overcoat until clothing could be brought up from his "day cabin". - Break into two sentences; the second sentence should start at "Cowan"
 * ✅ Mkdw talk 16:19, 26 July 2016 (UTC)


 * Curacoa was under repair through July and was placed in reserve following their completion. - In my view, "...was placed in reserve after the repairs were completed" would sound better than the current wording.
 * ✅ Mkdw talk 16:19, 26 July 2016 (UTC)


 * Curacoa remained in the Mediterranean at least through February 1923. - I seems to me that "through" is being slightly overused. I would suggest changing "through" to "until", and also placing "until" before "at least"
 * ✅ Mkdw talk 16:19, 26 July 2016 (UTC)


 * The ship was transferred to the Mediterranean Fleet as the flagship of the 3rd Cruiser Squadron, which was commanded by her first captain, Barry Domvile, on 4 September 1929 and remained there until 1932. - As currently worded, this sentence sounds like a run-on. I think the following wording would be better: "On 4 September 1929, the ship was transferred to the Mediterranean Fleet as the flagship of the 3rd Cruiser Squadron, which was commanded by her first captain, Barry Domvile. She remained in the Mediterranean until 1932."
 * ✅ Mkdw talk 16:26, 26 July 2016 (UTC)


 * This consisted of replacing all of her six-inch guns with eight QF 4-inch (102 mm) Mk XVI dual-purpose guns in four twin-gun turrets in the positions formerly occupied by Nos. 1, 3, 4, and 5 six-inch guns. - Perhaps there should be a comma between "turrets" and "in"
 * ✅ Mkdw talk 16:26, 26 July 2016 (UTC)


 * During the Norwegian Campaign, the ship escorted a British troop convoy to Åndalsnes (Operation Sickle) in mid-April, although she had to land the battalion of the Sherwood Foresters that she was carrying, together with the light cruiser Arethusa, at nearby Molde when the quay at Åndalsnes proved to be too small to allow all more than one cruiser at a time to disembark their troops before daylight. - This sentence is much too long. If possible, it should be split into at least two sentences.
 * ✅ and second sentence reordered for ease of transition. Mkdw talk 17:59, 26 July 2016 (UTC)


 * Curacoa returned home, but was ordered back to Åndalsnes to protect the beachhead there from German aircraft and arrived there on 22 April. - I suggest this wording: "Curacoa returned home, but was ordered back to Åndalsnes to protect the beachhead there from German aircraft, arriving on 22 April."
 * ✅ Mkdw talk 18:01, 26 July 2016 (UTC)


 * The bomb killed eight crewmen who were buried at Veblungsnes after the ship returned home for repairs. - Comma between "crewmen" and "who"
 * ✅ Mkdw talk 18:07, 26 July 2016 (UTC)


 * By September 1942, her anti-aircraft suite had been reinforced by five single mounts for 20-millimeter (0.8 in) Oerlikon light AA guns and a Type 273 long-range surface-search radar was added. - I suggest splitting this into two sentences: "By September 1942, her anti-aircraft suite had been reinforced by five single mounts for 20-millimeter (0.8 in) Oerlikon light AA guns; a Type 273 long-range surface-search radar was also added.
 * ✅ Mkdw talk 18:07, 26 July 2016 (UTC)


 * On the morning of 2 October 1942, Curacoa rendezvoused north of Ireland with the ocean liner Queen Mary carrying 10,000-odd American troops of the 29th Infantry Division. - Please clarify whether the Curacoa or the Queen Mary was carrying the troops.
 * ✅ Mkdw talk 04:20, 1 August 2016 (UTC)


 * The elderly cruiser's top speed was 25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph) by this time and both captains were familiar with the zig-zag pattern as they had discussed in a meeting before their first rendezvous in August. - Should there be an "it" between "discussed" and "in"? Also, there should be a comma before "as".
 * ✅ Yes I believe so. Mkdw talk 04:20, 1 August 2016 (UTC)


 * Captain John Boutwood of the Curacoa decided to keep to the liner's mean course to maximize his ability to defend the liner from enemy aircraft, but Captain Charles Illingworth of the Queen Mary expected his escort to conform to his movements and keep out of his ship's way. - I don't fully understand this sentence. It says that Boutwood kept to the mean course of Queen Mary, but it also says that Illingworth was frustrated by Curacoa's movements and wanted it to "conform to his movements." How was the Curacoa not conforming to Illingworth's movements, seeing that it was keeping to his mean course?
 * I'll need your help on this one. It was my understanding of the event that both ships were zig-zagging but one ship expected the escort to follow her movements and the other followed seafaring rules in expecting the other ship to give way. It is possible for the Curacoa to still track the mean course of the Queen Mary (i.e. its overall heading) but to be zig zagging not in sync with the Queen Mary's own zig zag movements. I think this is what is meant here, but Sturmvogel 66 can likely clarify for certain. Mkdw talk 04:42, 1 August 2016 (UTC)
 * I'm not at home to check my source's wording, but I don't think that Curacoa was actually zig-zagging. I'll be able to do that on Sunday.--Sturmvogel 66 (talk) 00:19, 5 August 2016 (UTC)
 * ✅ I found three books that confirmed the cruiser was heading in a straight line while the liner performed a zig-zag pattern. I was also able to obtain the ship's overall rate of advance and that the liner would eventually overtake the cruiser even on a straight heading. I think this should take care of the last note if you want to have a look over and let me know.  Mkdw talk 04:51, 5 August 2016 (UTC)


 * During the zig-zag at 13:32 it became apparent that Queen Mary would come too close to the cruiser... - Change to: "At 13:32, during the zig-zag, it became apparent..."
 * ✅ Mkdw talk 04:20, 1 August 2016 (UTC)


 * ...Queen Mary radioed the other destroyers of her escort, about 7 nautical miles (13 km; 8.1 mi) away, of the collision and steamed onwards with a damaged bow. - The wording here could "flow" better. I suggest something like this: "...Queen Mary steamed onwards with a damaged bow and informed the other destroyers of her escort (about 7 nautical miles (13 km; 8.1 mi) away) about the collision through radio."
 * ✅ I have broken it up into two sentences. There is a lot of information being conveyed so it might be better to separate them. Mkdw talk 04:24, 1 August 2016 (UTC)

We were on holiday in the Small Isles this month and saw graves of seamen from the cruiser (some named, some 'Known unto God') in graveyards on Muck (NM 421795) and on Eigg (NM 489 854). --82.6.105.43 (talk) 21:41, 16 July 2017 (UTC)
 * The graves of those whose bodies were recovered or died after rescue can be found in Chatham and in Arisaig Cemetery in Invernesshire. - For clarity, I propose rewording to: "The graves of those who died after rescue, or whose bodies were recovered, were buried in Chatham..."
 * ✅ Mkdw talk 04:16, 1 August 2016 (UTC)


 * Little happened until 1945 when the case went to trial in June, it was adjourned to November and then December 1946. - Comma between "1945" and "when"; change comma (the one between "June" and "it") to semicolon; add "to" between "then" and "December"
 * ✅ Mkdw talk 04:16, 1 August 2016 (UTC)


 * The Admiralty appealed his ruling and the Court of Appeal modified the ruling assigning two-thirds of the blame... - Comma between "ruling" and "assigning"
 * ✅ Mkdw talk 04:16, 1 August 2016 (UTC)

Comments
Thanks for taking care of these for me, Mkdw. And thank you for allowing this to proceed, that was big of you. I should be able to respond to the rest of the comments from here on out (but don't let that stop you if you're minded to continue!).--Sturmvogel 66 (talk) 01:57, 28 July 2016 (UTC)
 * I'm finished with the review. My apologies if all my comments seem overwhelming, but I have a tendency to be rather thorough on prose issues. Biblio (talk) WikiProject Reforming Wikipedia. 23:14, 31 July 2016 (UTC)
 * Not a problem. I've completed most of the remaining notes. There is only one that I could not complete and so I've asked to help clarify it. They have access to the reference material and should be able to address it. Regards,  Mkdw talk 04:31, 1 August 2016 (UTC)
 * I just made a few very minor copy edits, and everything else looks good to me. Passed. Biblio (talk) WikiProject Reforming Wikipedia. 23:44, 6 August 2016 (UTC)