The last cruiser, but by no means the last drawing for this thread!
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