BLACK PRINCE light cruisers (1943/1946-1956)

Black Prince 1946

Royalist 1960

Name	No	Yard No	Builder	Laid down	Launched	Comp	Fate
Bellona	63 - C63		Fairfield, Govan, UK	30.11.1939	29.9.1942	29.10.1943 // 1948	to UK 1956 (Bellona)
Black Prince	81 - C81		Harland & Wolff, Belfast, UK	2.11.1939	27.8.1942	20.11.1943 // 1946	stricken 11.1961
Royalist	89 - C89		Scotts, Greenock, UK	21.3.1940	30.5.1942	10.9.1943 // 7.1956	sold for BU 11.1967

Displacement standard, t

5950

Displacement full, t

7350 - 7410

Length, m

147.8 pp 156.1 oa

Breadth, m

15.4

Draught, m

5.41 - 5.46

No of shafts

4

Machinery

4 sets Parsons geared steam turbines, 4 Admiralty 3-drum boilers

Power, h. p.

62000

Max speed, kts

32

Fuel, t

oil 1042 - 1100

Endurance, nm(kts) 5100(15)

Armour, mm
belt: 76, bulkheads: 25, turrets: 13, deck: 51 - 25

Armament

Bellona: 4 x 2 - 133/50 RP.10 Mk II, 3 x 4 - 40/39 Mk VII, 6 x 2 - 20/70 Mk V, 8 x 1 - 20/70 Mk VII, 2 x 3 - 533 TT
Black Prince: 4 x 2 - 133/50 RP.10 Mk II, 8 x 1 - 40/60 Mk III, 3 x 4 - 40/39 Mk VII, 8 x 2 - 20/70 Mk V, 8 x 1 - 20/70 Mk VII, 2 x 3 - 533 TT
Royalist: 4 x 2 - 133/50 Mk 2, 3 x 2 - 40/60 STAAG Mk 2, 2 x 1 - 40/60 Mk 7

Electronic equipment
type 272, type 281, 3x type 282, type 284, 2x type 285 radars

Complement

530

Project history: A little changed design of Dido class with number of 133mm mountings moderated to four and third quadruple pom-pom. They had vertical funnels and masts without a declination. Royalist right after completing was converted to command ship.

Royalist was modernized at Devonport in 1954-1956. Close-range armament was renewed, TTs were removed. Bridge was rebuilt, lattice masts replaced tripods and Mk 6M directors (associated with type 285 radars) were installed fwd and aft.

Protection: Armoured belt protected machinery spaces and extended up to upper deck level abreast boiler rooms and fore engine room and to main deck level abreast aft engine room. Magazines had 76-mm sides. Armoured deck was 25-mm thick over machinery and steering gear and 51-mm over magazines.

Modernizations: None.

Naval service: Royalist damaged her boiler tubes when her feedwater became contaminated with seawater, and paid off prematurely in July 1966.

� Ivan Gogin, 2015

Displacement standard, t	5950
Displacement full, t	7350 - 7410
Length, m	147.8 pp 156.1 oa
Breadth, m	15.4
Draught, m	5.41 - 5.46
No of shafts	4
Machinery	4 sets Parsons geared steam turbines, 4 Admiralty 3-drum boilers
Power, h. p.	62000
Max speed, kts	32
Fuel, t	oil 1042 - 1100
Endurance, nm(kts)	5100(15)
Armour, mm	belt: 76, bulkheads: 25, turrets: 13, deck: 51 - 25
Armament	Bellona: 4 x 2 - 133/50 RP.10 Mk II, 3 x 4 - 40/39 Mk VII, 6 x 2 - 20/70 Mk V, 8 x 1 - 20/70 Mk VII, 2 x 3 - 533 TT Black Prince: 4 x 2 - 133/50 RP.10 Mk II, 8 x 1 - 40/60 Mk III, 3 x 4 - 40/39 Mk VII, 8 x 2 - 20/70 Mk V, 8 x 1 - 20/70 Mk VII, 2 x 3 - 533 TT Royalist: 4 x 2 - 133/50 Mk 2, 3 x 2 - 40/60 STAAG Mk 2, 2 x 1 - 40/60 Mk 7
Electronic equipment	type 272, type 281, 3x type 282, type 284, 2x type 285 radars
Complement	530

ROYAL NEW ZEALAND NAVY (NEW ZEALAND)

BLACK PRINCE light cruisers (1943/1946-1956)