Mizriah-class light cruiser
Requirements for an anti-aircraft escort cruiser that would eventually become the Mizriah-class existed as early as 1344, and also the St Azia class. During St Azia's development, an alternative, smaller design study was submitted that would have gone for quantity of hulls over size of hulls. The common basis of these designs was an emphasis on dual-purpose main battery artillery, be it 130mm guns or 150s. The Antarans did not perfect the auto-loading DP 150mm gun until 1347, and despite initial teething problems, the navy wanted more guns of this type on the water. However the war had ended and St Azia was too expensive to procure in great numbers.
The kamikaze threat scared many in the navy, and despite the war having ended, there was still a great desire to tighten up air defences for the fleet. Antara's older cruisers were no longer seen as being 'good enough' to escort their carriers. Thus the Mizriah class was born, mostly as a replacement for the myriad of older cruisers now thought of as obsolencent in the modern world. Mizriah would be a cheaper continuation of St Azia, built to a smaller displacement, thinner armor and significantly less, but still potent artillery. Initially it was planned for the class to replace the entirety of the navy's interwar cruiser fleet, however this did not survive long due to post-war budget slashing. In the end, only three vessels were commissioned in 1354.
The Mizriahs were the last gun cruisers to be built, and that period of being actual gun cruisers was short lived as they would be converted to missile cruisers just 10 years later.
Specifications
Displacement - 12 560 tonnes standard, 17 600 tonnes full load
Speed - 32 knots planned, 33.5 knots on trial
Range - 20 000nm at 15 knots
Main Armament - 3xIII 150mm/60 dual-purpose, auto-loading guns
Secondary Armament - 2xII & 4xI 130mm/54 dual-purpose, auto-loading guns
Tertiary Armament - Numerous 76mm/50s
Armor - 150mm belt, 150mm decks (total), 178mm turret face, 100mm turret sides, 178mm barbettes, 100mm CT
Ships in Class
Mizriah - scrapped, 1395
White Rock - scrapped, 1394
Haraburg - scuttled, 1379