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Allan C. Green. State Library of Victoria. Via Wikimedia Commons.
| Tonnage | 8530 tons standard displacement |
| Dimensions | 555'6" by 62'0" by 19'10" 169.31m by 18.90m by 6.04m |
| Maximum speed | 32.25 knots |
| Complement | 733 |
| Aircraft |
3 seaplanes 1 catapult |
| Armament | 4x3 6"/50
guns 4x2 4"/45 dual-purpose guns 2x4 2pdr AA guns 2x1 20mm Oerlikon AA guns 4x4 0.50 machine guns 2x3 21" torpedo tubes |
| Protection | 3.4"
(83mm) machinery belt 3.5" (89mm) magazine belt 2" (51mm) bulkheads tapering to 1.5" (38mm) 2" (51mm) deck 1.25" (32mm) crown over steering with 1.5" (38mm) slopes 1" (25mm) barbettes 2"/1" (51mm/25mm) turret face/side |
| Machinery |
4-shaft Parsons geared turbine (72500 shp) 4 Admiralty 3-drum boilers |
| Bunkerage | 1700 tons fuel oil |
| Range | 6520 nautical miles (12,000km) at 13 knots |
| Sensors |
Type 279 radar Type 281 radar |
| Modifications |
Kenya: 12-1942:
Light armament improved to 2x4 2pdr, 6x2 20mm guns. Radar upgraded to Type 272, Type 282, Type 283 and Type 285. Late 1943: Added 2x2 20mm
guns. 1945-4: One 6" turret replaced with 2x2 40mm Bofors AA guns.
Nigeria: 1943-6: 0.50 machine guns and single 20mm guns replaced with 8x2 20mm guns and Type 272 and Type 282 radar. Gambia:
1942-2: Added 6x1 20mm guns. 1943-9: Aircraft replaced with 10x2 20mm
guns. |
The Fiji
class were a direct response to the Second London Naval
Treaty of 1937, which mandated a displacement limit for cruisers of
8000 tons. Because of the rapid collapse of the naval treaty system, the Fijis
were the only cruisers actually built by any power to confirm to the
short-lived 8000 ton limit. In some respects they resembled small Southamptons. With the lapse of
the treaties, the design armament was increased by the
addition of torpedo tubes and 2pdr antiaircraft guns.
As with many other classes of ships, the antiaircraft armament and radar
were repeatedly updated during the war.
| Gambia
|
Arrived 1942-3? |
|
Kenya |
Arrived 1944-1 |
| Nigeria |
Arrived 1944-1 |
References
Gogin (2010; accessed 2012-12-21)
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