I have been reviewing my cruiser lines post WW1. The original line I have uses the Frobisher class hull and using twin and triple 7.5" mountings. The 7.5" gun is a good enough gun and being smaller/lighter does give some spare tonnage that can be used for the necessary extra armour over the RTL County class. The biggest difference between the RTL County and my expanded Frobisher's is the radius of action. The difference in range is about 4000 miles. Difference between 13,300 nmi at 12 knots and 9000 nmi at 12 knots. Almost a 50% loss. That is just the difference in the size of the hulls. Lots more space in the County hull for fuel and provisions.
The other cruisers being built at the same time as the Frobisher's was the 'E' Class. So my thought was, "What would an improved 'E' look like with 8" guns?". My first part of the idea was to replace the twin 8" of the County's with triples. Mainly as a weight and space saving device. One of the improvements of the 'E's was the unit system of machinery, intentional or otherwise. From forward to aft the propulsion system ran, boiler room, boiler room, engine room and lastly another boiler room. This gave the slightly odd looking funnel arrangement, but powerful 80,000shp propulsion system.
![[ img ]](https://www.dropbox.com/s/kpjxzzo7j40sm5k/CA_1929_HMS_Cornwall.PNG?dl=1)
What was required was an expanded hull. Going from the 570 x 54.5 foot hull for 7x6" at 33.5 knots to the 617 x 66 foot hull with 9x8" at 32 knots. The original design made space for where aircraft handling facilities could be fitted but these were not fitted to the mid 30's. In fact a series of refits and rebuilds were required from completion to 1939-40 to keep the ships at the forefront of their class.
![[ img ]](https://www.dropbox.com/s/o0gf6i1acspxyjm/CA_1929-39_HMS_Cornwall.PNG?dl=1)
As completed.
Displacement: 10,010 tons standard, 13,250 tons full load.
Dimensions: 617 x 66 x 21 feet
Machinery: 4 shafts, Geared turbines, 80,000shp
Speed: 32 knots
Endurance: 10,000 nmi @ 14 knots
Armour: 3.5" belt, 1.5" deck, 3" turrets.
Armament:
9 x 8" (3x3)
5 x 4" AA (5x1)
4 x 2pd AA (4x1)
Aircraft: nil
Torpedoes: 12 x 21" (4x3)
Crew: 740
As rebuilt to 1940.
Armament:
9 x 8" (3x3)
8 x 4" (4x2)
12 x 2pd (3x4)
16 x 20mm (16x1)
Aircraft: 2
Torpedoes: 6 x 21" (2x3)
Crew: 765 (800 as flagship)
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![[ img ]](https://www.dropbox.com/s/ys8f3fcjmyyjgyb/AU_GB-Gloster%20Griffon_Radial_Merlin.png?dl=1)
