United Kingdom – HMS Surrey, HMS Northumberland The Surrey class were a never-built heavy cruiser class, in fact the very last of the Royal Navy, capped by treaties, notably the 1930 London treaty. The 1929 financial crisis, that hit hard in Britain as well, and criticisms over a woefully inadequate protection led to their cancellation … Read more
Minelayer cruisers – HMS Abdiel, Latona, Manxman, Welshman, Ariadne, Apollo The Abdiel class were six fast minelayers (cruisers) commissioned during the Second World War, built in two groups, one ordered in 1938, the second in wartime and commissioned in 1943. They were known as the Manxman class of just the “mine-laying cruisers”, armed only with … Read more
United Kingdom (1945) – HMS Blake, Tiger, Lion 1959-78. The Tiger class were three and last light conventional cruisers built for the Royal Navy. They were initially known as the Minotaur-class cruisers (Blake, Defence and Bellerophon) and started in late WW2 but shelved due to post-war austerity. Amidst changing priorities and still under financial limits, … Read more
United Kingdom (1942-44) HMS Bellona, Black Prince, Royalist, Spartan, Diadem The British AA cruisers, reloaded These ships were derived from the previous “Dido” but with revised AA artillery, superstructures and lower funnels to clear their firing range. They shared the same hull, facilities, and same turrets, albeit the “C” one (uppermost) was removed for a … Read more
