Shipbucket

This thread will contain many of the various cruisers and escorts designed for, or conversions for, the Sea Slug surface-to-air missile system.

Early Conversions

The first three Sea Slug-armed cruisers were planned conversions of aircraft carriers, partly to make use of surplus hulls and partly to use their spacious hulls for magazines and command spaces.


HMS Formidable June 1951

This planned conversion of the laid-up Illustrious Class carrier, HMS Formidable dates from 25 June 1951, at this date much of the equipment was still in the development stage and items such as the Type 984 were still undefined. The island superstructure was replaced and armament changed to two Sea Slug launchers (magazines in the hull with sloped reload tubes from below) and six twin 3in L/70 mounts. Radars were; two Type 984 3-D radars, one Type 960 long-range aerial-search, one Type 992 surveillance, one Type 974 surface search and two Type 901 Sea Slug fire-control.
Drawing Note: This drawing is based on an official sketch drawing which shows only the outline of the superstructure and the locations of the armament.


HMS Majestic June 1951

This planned conversion of the incomplete Majestic Class carrier, HMS Majestic dates from 9 June 1951 and is the first of this series of carrier conversions. The rebuilding would see the hull being cut down by one deck and a new upper deck fitted, new block superstructure and a new bows fitted. Armament was two Sea Slug launchers (magazines in the hull with sloped reload tubes from below), four twin 3in L/70 mounts (four MRS-3 directors) and six 40mm L/60 (or L/70) twin mounts (six STD directors). Radars were; two Type 984 3-D radars, one Type 960 long-range aerial-search, one Type 992 surveillance, one Type 974 surface search and two Type 901 Sea Slug fire-control.
Drawing Note: This drawing is based on an official sketch drawing and other published illustrations


HMS Majestic June 1951

This planned conversion of the incomplete Majestic Class carrier, HMS Majestic dates from 28 June 1951. The conversion was less ambitious and this conversion is probably the best known, thanks to the drawing of it in Eric Grove's 'Vanguard to Trident'. Armament was two Sea Slug launchers (magazines in the hull with sloped reload tubes from below) and four twin 3in L/70 mounts (four MRS-3 directors). Radars were; two Type 984 3-D radars, one Type 960 long-range aerial-search, one Type 992 surveillance, one Type 974 surface search and two Type 901 Sea Slug fire-control.
Drawing Note: This drawing is a simple updating of Portsmouth Bill's excellent original with newer parts (especially the Sea Slug system) and re-colouring of the underwater hull.


Fiji Class Conversion October 1954

From the beginning of the search for a guided-missile cruiser, the Fiji class was considered as the basis for a conversion. The first proposed 48 Sea Slug missiles, Type 984 radar. Gun armament would be A turret and four twin Bofors 40mm L/70 mounts. This was unstable so the missiles were halved to 24 and the Type 984 replaced by the inferior (but lighter) Type 982/Type 983 combination.
In October 1954, alongside the early GW24-31 series, the final Fiji conversion was studied. Further attempts were made to lighten the ship, although a second Type 901 director was added. The radar fit matched that of the destroyer designs which became the County Class; Type 960 aerial search, Type 277Q height-finding, Type 992 TIR and Type 274 surface search. The gun armament remained at one triple 6in turret and the Bofors were now five twin 40mm Mk5 Bofors with STD directors (the mount aft of the mainmast is on the centreline). The rear superstructure held the 24 Sea Slugs, no armouring scheme is known, perhaps none given the topweight concerns. The design was still flawed, stability was acceptable but now trimmed 3ft 2in by the stern. Following this only new sheet designs were considered. Displacing 10,950 tons deep, the 80,000shp machinery would provide 30.5kts deep and clean. Endurance was 4,900nm at 20kts. Maximum complement was 790 (not at modern standards).
Drawing Note: This drawing is based on an official sketch drawing


GW-Series September-November 1954 GW24-31
Four designs covering a spectrum of guided-missile escorts from cruiser size to destroyers were drawn up in September 1954 and they became the basis for further development.


GW24 September 1954

GW24 was the first of this series, a guided-missile destroyer. In September 1954, Admiral Edwards who had launched the Cruiser-Destroyer concept argued in favour of building multiple Daring-sized guided missile ships as opposed to cruisers. The Director of Plans agreed. GW24 was in effect a missile-armed Super Daring. GW24 was armed three twin 40mm L/70 mounts (one could be replaced by a twin 3in L/70 or Limbo), two single A/S torpedo tubes and a single Sea Slug launcher with 12 missiles. Radars were; one Type 960 aerial search, one Type 992 surveillance, one Type 974 surface search, three MRS-3 gunnery fire-control and one Type 901 Sea Slug fire-control. The dimensions were 372ft (oa) x 43 x 12ft 6in, displacement 3,550 tons (deep). Two Y.102A units provided a speed of 30.75kts deep and clean. Endurance was only 3,200nm at 20kts. No protection was fitted. The design was impracticable for several reasons but the main problem was that the small hull only provided space for 20 officers and 260 ratings when the systems required a total of 450 men.


GW25 September 1954

Of the four designs, GW25 was a cruiser armed with two twin 6in, two twin 3in L/70, four twin 40mm L/70 and a single Sea Slug launcher with 84 missiles. Radars were; one Type 984 3-D radar, one Type 992 surveillance, one Type 974 surface search and two Type 901 Sea Slug fire-control. Each gun mount was controlled by an MRS-3. The dimensions were 645ft (wl) x 79 x 22.5ft, displacement 17,725 tons. Two YEAD units providing 120,000shp gave a speed of 32.5kts. Armour protection totalling 2,842 tons was provided.
During further development the ship grew by 275 tons and the bridge (and Type 984) was raised one deck higher. It was selected for further development.
Drawing Note: This drawing is my speculative interpretation based on the GW25C plans, given the GW25C had a 200ft long magazine for 48 missiles and another 200ft remained ahead of it to B turret, I feel the magazine would have run the entire length of the superstructure and this would explain the rather large gap between the bridge and the turrets which remained a feature of GW25C. My drawing is of the final configuration.


GW25A September 1954

Estimates at that time showed the Sea Slug launcher would weigh less than a twin 6in mount and so GW25A was studied with one launcher and Type 901 replacing B mount. The magazine still held 84 missiles. Displacement rose to 18,331 tons.
Drawing Note: This drawing is my speculative interpretation based on the GW25C plans (see drawing note above). Friedman says he could not see how the launcher and 6in could be mounted together but I think this layout is the most logical one given the location of the magazine.


GW25B September 1954

This design was similar to GW25A but had no 6in guns.
Drawing Note: This drawing is my speculative interpretation based on the GW25C plans (see drawing note above).


GW25C November 1954

DNC realised that 84 missiles could not easily be accommodated and so halved the capacity to 48 missiles (the 200ft long magazine runs from the aft 40mm to the forefunnel with an elevator at each end). Dimensions remained unchanged but with more refined calculations the displacement grew to 18,300 tons. The Controller informed the Ship Design Policy Committee on 20 December that the Sea Lords had broadly approved the design. Sketch Staff Requirements based on the design were issued but on 28 January 1955 the Sea Lords decided not to pursue these further.
Drawing Note: This drawing is based on an official sketch drawing and other published illustrations


GW26 October 1954

GW29 October 1954

GW26 was designed as a Fleet Escort with a single Sea Slug launcher with 66 missiles, soon expanded to 90 missiles. The magazine had two side-by-side lines of 11 missiles, at the fore end were two more lines of 6 missiles each outboard, if in lines four deep a maximum of 94 could be carried but 90 was the rated amount. Other armament was two twin 3in L/70 and four twin 40mm L/70. Radars were; one Type 982 TIR radar, one Type 983 height-finding radar, one Type 992 surveillance, one Type 974 surface search and two Type 901 Sea Slug fire-control. Each gun mount was controlled by an MRS-3. The dimensions were 540ft (oa) (530ft wl) x 70 x 19ft, displacement 10,800 tons. COSAG propulsion would be used and endurance was calculated for a 255 hour mission; 180 hours at 20kts, 34 hours at 80% power and 11 hours at full power. Armour was 3in belt and 2in deck over machinery and the Sea Slug magazine in the superstructure had 1.5in sides and deck. GW 26 was not entirely satisfactory and would be further refined as GW29.
GW29 had two YEAD(1) steam units for 120,000shp provided a speed of 28.5kts (deep and clean). The units were 45ft apart to increase survivability. Range was 5,600nm at 20kts. The armour over the Sea Slug magazine was increased to 2in. This added 125 tons quite high in the ship, displacement increased to 10,950 tons.
Drawing Note: This drawing is based on an official sketch drawing and other published illustrations


GW28 October 1954

GW28 was classed as a Convoy Escort, basically GW26 without fleet speed. Armament was two twin 3in L/70 (abreast mounts), four twin 40mm L/70 and one Sea Slug launcher with 90 missiles. Radars were; one Type 982 TIR radar, one Type 983 height-finding radar, one Type 992 surveillance, one Type 974 surface search and two Type 901 Sea Slug fire-control. Each gun mount was controlled by an MRS-3. The dimensions were 530ft (oa) (520ft wl) x 70 x 17ft, displacement 10,00 tons (deep). Two frigate machinery units (15,000shp each) provided a speed of 24.75kts deep and clean and range of 6,400nm at 12kts (Freidman claims 25.2kts deep and clean). Armour was identical to GW26.
Drawing Note: This drawing is based on an official sketch drawing and other published illustrations


GW27 October 1954

GW27A October 1954

The final design of the first series was another Convoy Escort design, GW27. This design was drawn up using sketch Staff Requirement TSD 2282/54. The design was smaller than GW26 with fewer missiles. Armament was one twin 3in L/70, four twin 40mm L/70 and one Sea Slug launcher with 30 missiles. Radars were; one Type 960 long-range air search, one Type 992 surveillance, one Type 974 surface search and one Type 901 Sea Slug fire-control. Each gun mount was controlled by an MRS-3. The sonar dome is for the Type 176 passive torpedo-warning sonar. The dimensions were 450ft (wl) x 63ft x 16ft, displacement 7,200 tons (deep). Two YEAD(1) machinery units (30,000shp each) provided a speed of 28.8kts deep and clean and endurance of 4,500nm (80% at 20 kts, 15% at 80% full power and 5% at full power). Armour was limited to 1in over the AIO and magazine. The magazine was a box 172 x 18 x 16ft and the AIO was a box 60 x 30 x 16ft.
GW27A was identical but was powered by two COSAG Y102 units (30,000shp each).
Drawing Note: This drawing is speculative based on official sketch drawings of GW28 and GW32


GW31 November 1954

The Director of Tactical and Staff Duties (DTSD) unofficially requested a version of GW27 with ASW weapons on the basis a convoy escort would need to fight underwater as well as aerial targets. This became GW31. Limbo and Type 177 Sonar was added and I have added the fixed A/S torpedo armament of GW32 since it seems likely to have been included. Endurance was based on 15kts rather than the fleet speed of 20kts.
Drawing Note: This drawing is speculative based on official sketch drawings of GW28 and GW32


GW32 November 1954

GW32 was an entirely unprotected version of GW31, displacement falling to 5,000 tons (deep). Dimensions were 460ft (oa) (450 ft wl) x 53 ft x 12ft 6in. Speed was 27.25kts deep and clean, endurance 4,500nm at 20kts. Armament was three twin 40mm L/70, one Limbo (30 salvoes), 6x fixed A/S torpedo tubes (12x Bidder torpedoes) and one Sea Slug launcher (30 missiles). The radar was identical but the plan drawing shows a Type 277Q/ 978 height-finding radar added. Sonar is one Type 177 and one Type 176.
Drawing Note: This drawing is based on an official sketch drawing and other published illustrations


GW-Series December 1954 - January 1955 GW35-36


GW36 (gun-missile cruiser) January 1955

GW36 was drawn up for a cruiser armed with two twin 5.25in mounts and 24 Sea Slug missiles as well as four twin 40mm Bofors. The ultimate aim was a conversion to an all-missile ship. Three 30,000shp YEAD(1) powerplants were installed with triple shafts. Displacement was 10,600 tons. Dimensions were 541 ft (oa) (530 ft wl) x 63 ft x 18ft. Speed was 31kts deep and clean. The radar fit was one Type 901 director, six MRS-3, Type 983 height-finding, Type 960, Type 992 and Type 974. A self-defence Type 176 sonar was likely too.
Drawing Note: This drawing is speculative based on official sketch drawings of GW36 as an double-ended missile cruiser


GW36 (all-missile version) January 1955

The all-missile ship 'conversion' (this is a slightly heavier and beamier design and a purpose-built ship) was illustrated in Friedman's 'Postwar Naval Revolution' but without its designation. Three 30,000shp YEAD(1) powerplants were installed with triple shafts. Displacement was 10,700 tons (deep load). Dimensions were 541 ft (oa) (530 ft wl) x 69 ft x 18.6ft. Speed was 30kts deep and clean, endurance 4,500nm at 20kts. Armament was four twin 40mm L/70 and 54 Sea Slug missiles (24 aft 30 forward), the longer magazine having three elevators, including one amidships, presumably for resupply. The radar fit was two Type 901 director, four MRS-3, Type 983 height-finding, Type 960, Type 992 and Type 974. A self-defence Type 176 sonar was likely too. Armour protection was 1in side and deck except for the machinery areas which had 1.5in deck. Accommodation for 60 officers and 270 ratings was provided.
Drawing Note: This drawing based on official sketch drawings of GW36


GW37 January 1955

The austere radar systems of the GW36 were recognised and in mid-January 1955 designer T J O'Neill began work on a sketch design of GW36 with the Type 984 radar. The radar affected the design with its weight and volume and to give clear arcs the ship had to be lengthened by 20ft. The radar also increased the complement and the hull weight. The growth was not unreasonable so Type 984 was deemed a reasonable request for any GW cruiser design.
Drawing Note: Most likely no sketch drawing was ever completed, this is my speculative drawing based on GW36


May 1955 Designs - Mountbatten Bath Visit


GW50A May 1955

The Sea Lords on 28 January 1955 directed DNC to prepare a 5in armed cruiser based on GW36. The resulting GW39 inspired Staff Requirement TSD 2295/55 for a cruiser with two twin 5in, 48 missiles and 31kts deep and dirty. This became GW41. Further developments included the 6in Mk26 and a notional single 6in mount (GW42-46). These provided the Sea Lords with useful guidance but all were poor designs with inefficient use of magazine space. In April 1955 the Controller asked for another series of designs, by now Armstrong Whitworth had supplied more concrete data on the Sea Slug weight and dimensions and a decision was taken to abandon the 5in gun. However, the 5in still crops up, including the 4.5in Mk.6. GW48 was the smallest, GW49 had twin 5in guns, GW50 was a revised GW47 with three YEAD units to provide adequate speed, displacing 13,000 tons and dimensions of 570 x 76 x 19ft 6in.
When Mountbatten visited Bath on 17 May he was shown the sketch design of GW50A, basically GW50 with a displacement margin added. The design grew too. Displacement 13,500 tons (deep). Dimensions were 600ft (oa) (590 ft wl) x 76ft x 19ft 3in. Speed was 31.5kts deep and clean with three 35,000shp YEAD sets, endurance 4,500nm at 20kts. Armament was two twin 5in, four twin 40mm L/70 and 48 Sea Slug missiles. The radar fit was one Type 901 director, six MRS-3, Type 984, Type 992 and Type 974. A self-defence Type 176 sonar was likely too. Armour protection was 1.5in side and deck except for the machinery areas which had 1in deck.
Drawing Note: This drawing based on official sketch drawings of GW50A


GW51A May 1955

GW51 was the 6in armed version of GW50 with a raised bridge. Displacement was 13,900 tons; dimensions 590 x 77 x 19ft 6in and 31.75kts speed. When Mountbatten visited Bath on 17 May he was shown the sketch design of GW51A, basically GW51 with a displacement margin added. Displacement 14,500 tons (deep). Dimensions were 625ft (oa) (615 ft wl) x 77ft x 19ft 6in. Speed was 31.5kts deep and clean with three 35,000shp YEAD sets, endurance 4,500nm at 20kts. Armament was two twin 6in, four twin 40mm L/70 and 48 Sea Slug missiles. The radar fit was one Type 901 director, six MRS-3, Type 984, Type 992 and Type 974. A self-defence Type 176 sonar was likely too. Armour protection was 1.5in side and deck except for the machinery areas which had 1in deck. Complement was 78 officers and 970 ratings.
Drawing Note: This drawing based on official sketch drawings of GW51A


GW52A May 1955

GW52 was a version of GW51 with two twin 3in L/70 mounts aft, adding 160 tons of weight and 10ft to the length. Displacement was 14,500tons; dimensions 600 x 78 x 19ft 9in and 31.75kts speed. When Mountbatten visited Bath on 17 May he was shown the sketch design of GW52A, basically GW52 with a displacement margin added. Displacement 15,100tons (deep). Dimensions were 635ft (oa) (626ft wl) x 78ft x 19ft 9in. Speed was 31.5kts deep and clean with three 35,000shp YEAD sets, endurance 4,500nm at 20kts. Armament was two twin 6in, two twin 3in L/70, two twin 40mm L/70 and 48 Sea Slug missiles. The radar fit was one Type 901 director, six MRS-3, Type 984, Type 992 and Type 974. A self-defence Type 176 sonar was likely too. Armour protection was 1.5in side and deck except for the machinery areas which had 1in deck. Complement was 76 officers and 970 ratings.
Drawing Note: This drawing based on official sketch drawings of GW52A


GW51 Talos May 1955

On 21 May 1955 DNC began a sketch design of GW51 with the American RIM-8 Talos system. Based on the original GW51 rather than the GW51A, the design had a displacement of 14,030 tons (deep). Dimensions were 590 x 77 x 19ft 6in. The magazine would hold 46 missiles and there were no gun turrets fitted. Friedman mentions the Talos launcher could be aft or forward, replacing the 6in turrets, but the sketch data seems to show no turrets. The magazine was lengthened to 150ft. Like all the magazines in the GW50-52 series, it had 1.75in armoured top plating. Fire-control was by two AN/SPG-49 and the other radars were British, Types 984, 992 and 974. Note: In 'British Cruisers' Friedman refers to this design as the GW61, this is incorrect.
Drawing Note: This drawing is speculative based on available material



GW58 June 1955

GW58 was an upgraded version of GW52A with the DNC's desired 4% growth margin and corrections to machinery weights (+200 tons). The result was effectively a repeat of the GW25C except for only two Bofors mounts. Armour was much reduced (1.5in Vs 4in) but stability was better 8.5ft GM Vs 6.75ft GM) and the missiles were stowed one deck lower. GW58 was considered the basis for a final design and for the first time reliable detailed calculations were made. The design was handed to the Controller on 15 June and sketch Staff Requirement TSD 2305/55 was written around it. Displacement was 15,400 tons (deep); dimensions 637 (oa) x 78 x 20ft 3in. Speed was 32kts deep and clean with four 30,000shp YEAD sets producing 120,000hp (32kts on 105,000shp), endurance 4,500nm at 20kts. Armament was two twin 6in, two twin 3in L/70, two twin 40mm L/70 and 48 Sea Slug missiles. The radar fit was one Type 901 director, six MRS-3, Type 984, Type 992 and Type 974. Self-defence Type 176 and Type 177 sonars were also fitted. Armour protection was 1.5in side and deck except for the machinery areas which had 1in deck armour. Complement was 80 officers and 970 ratings.
Drawing Note: This drawing based on official sketch drawings of GW58


GW60 August 1955

GW60 was the result of sketch Staff Requirement TSD 2305/55 was written around the GW58. The main differences were the provision for a VDS set instead of the usual Type 176/177 self-defence Asdics and space for the Y200 powerplant then under development.
Displacement was 15,800 tons (deep); dimensions 657 (oa) (645 wl) x 78 x 20ft 3in. Speed was 33kts deep and clean with four 30,000shp YEAD sets producing 120,000hp (32kts on 105,000shp), endurance 4,500nm at 20kts. Armament was two twin 6in, two twin 3in L/70, two twin 40mm L/70 and 48 Sea Slug missiles. The radar fit was one Type 901 director, six MRS-3, Type 984, Type 992 and Type 974. A self-defence Type 176 sonar was likely too. Armour protection was 1.5in side and deck except for the machinery areas which had 1in deck armour.
Further developments came at the request of the DNO who wanted either four twin 3in L/70 or two twins and two sextuple 40mm L/70 mounts. These became GW64 and GW69 respectively, while GW64A was DNC's design project with 6 extra Sea Slug missiles (54 total).
Drawing Note: This drawing based on official sketch drawings of GW60


The Final Sea Slug Cruiser


GW96A January 1957

Following GW60 the Sketch Staff Requirement was revised and reissued in February 1956. It included DNO's four twin 3in L/70 mounts, provision for 25% nuclear Sea Slug warheads, more air intercept control positions, 90 more crew and removal of the VDS. A rough estimate was GW84 of March 1956 which topped at 18,300 tons. By now the size of the missile was known and the planned three-high, two-wide tube stowage was no longer practical so the magazine was now two levels of 27ft wide tubes one high and four wide. GW84 and 85 had this arrangement, with only two twin 3in GW85 came to 17,000 tons. DNC wanted to hold displacement to 16,000 tons. GW 86-89 explored 64 and 48-missile magazines with one or two Type 901. GW89 was 18,500 tons. DNC made new sketches of improved designs, GW91 was GW85 with the 3in guns aft to decrease bending moment when the guns fired but affected the 901 aft due to blast. GW92 swapped the missile launcher and B turret positions. GW93-95 were double-ended designs with four twin 3in and four to six 4.5in. GW96 of May 1956 was the optimum design but weight was a major issue. By August the project had stalled, the Admiralty losing enthusiasm for an expensive cruiser. On 27 August the Controller pushed back the planning dates by a year, the first of three ships would commission in October 1963, the last in October 1966. Arguments still raged over the details and a new Staff Requirement was issued in November 1956. GW96 was discussed in November, by now the magazine was altered so it could accommodate 64 Sea Slug or 124 Terriers or 64 Talos or 22 Blue Envoy (Stage 1 3/4) folded or 10 complete Blue Envoy. Replacement of Sea Slug by Red Shoes/ Green Flax was also mooted but resisted by the Navy. Controller suspended work in January 1957 and the Sea Slug mantle passed to the County Class destroyer.
The details of GW96A were:
Displacement was 18,450 tons (deep); dimensions 687 (oa) (675 wl) x 80 x 22ft. Speed was 32kts deep and clean with four YEAD sets producing 110,000hp, endurance 4,500nm at 20kts. Armament was two twin 6in Mk.26, four twin 3in L/70 Mk.6 and 64 Sea Slug missiles. The radar fit was two Type 901 directors, six MRS-3, Type 984, Type 992 and Type 974. Self-defence Type 176 and Type 177 sonars were also fitted. Armour protection was 1.5in side and deck except for the machinery areas which had 1in deck armour and the AIO which had 1in side and deck plating. Complement was 95 officers and 1,020 ratings.
Drawing Note: This drawing based on official sketch drawings of GW96A and photographs of the model held by Greenwich and other published drawings based on official sources

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Hood's Worklist
English Electric Canberra FD
Interwar RN Capital Ships
Super-Darings
Never-Were British Aircraft

Very nice to see these new series of never built British ships. The first two were unknown to me before.

Pretty interesting.

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My Worklist
Sources and documentations are the most welcome.

-Koko Kyouwakoku (Republic of Koko)
-Koko's carrier-based aircrafts of WWII
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Good looking set of drawings Hood. All of those uncompleted carrier and cruiser hulls must have been a large temptation to Admiralty to use for Sea Slug.

Great work James. It is also interesting to see that any sort of height finder radar is missing (like type 278).
Maybe they thought that the 3D Type 984 will suffice?

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Thank you Kim for the crest

"Never fear to try on something new. Remember that the Titanic was built by professionals, and the Ark by an amateur"

Thanks for the praise guys.
I've edited the 9 June Majestic drawing, it had some artefacts on it from incompleted cleaning up.

Novice,
Relatively few of the GW series seem to have had the 982/983 TIR & height finding set-up, the Type 984 had a measure of height-finding ability, especially if two were carried. Generally if the ship was large enough they stuck 984 on it.
The GW destroyers did have Type 278 height-finding , but again they had no Type 984.

I've some mouth-watering stuff to come, but alas many of the GW series are either unknown or un-illustrated. With luck I'll be able to reconstruct the most important designs of the series.

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Hood's Worklist
English Electric Canberra FD
Interwar RN Capital Ships
Super-Darings
Never-Were British Aircraft

Fantastic! Very interesting idea.

Thank you for your input regarding the height finding radar, as it seems that I was on the right path in guessing that the Type 984 served also as a height finder.
As for other, unillustrated GW ships, just use the common sense, that guided you in the past. You may also remember the Type 62 AD frigate, I did at the start of my SB tenure which was largely illustrated from the description of her in N. Friedman's book on British destroyers

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Thank you Kim for the crest

"Never fear to try on something new. Remember that the Titanic was built by professionals, and the Ark by an amateur"

Don't worry Novice I will, but all speculative drawings will be clearly labelled as such to avoid confusion later.

The GW series ran from (presumably) GW1 in March 1953 to GW96A in late 1956.
It seems the series only really got into its stride with GW24-27 in September/ October 1954 and then followed in batches of designs around certain specifications and variants of base designs so it should be easier to piece all the bits together. There are gaps in the numbering series and some were just basic calculations rather than proper sketch designs but I've assembled all the relevant dimensions and armament details. There are probably only 10 or so of the most important designs that have been drawn up in books etc. from official sketch drawings. From the drawings we have, it seems the general layout and form of these ships has a common style.
The GW series also includes at least one Talos armed design and a block of GW numbers for ships with Stage 1 3/4 SAMs (Blue Envoy) of which I don't even have descriptions!
Other gems include the Fiji conversion (not sure this had a GW number and seems to go back to 1953 in origins) and I'll explore the early County class designs too as GW57 developed.

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Hood's Worklist
English Electric Canberra FD
Interwar RN Capital Ships
Super-Darings
Never-Were British Aircraft

Love HMS Majestic 1951 .