C Class Cruiser - Conversion

Conversion

In the mid-1930s it was decided to modernize and refit the C class cruisers for anti-aircraft work. The aim was to convert all 13 cruisers of the late C classes, the Caledons, Ceress and Carlisles. The conversions between 1935 and 1936 of HMS Coventry and HMS Curlew served as prototypes.

Coventry and Curlew first had all armament removed. This was replaced with 10 single mount 4 inch high angle (HA) guns and two eight-barreled 2 pounder "pom-pom" mounts. The previous gun directors were removed and replaced with two suitable for anti-aircraft gun control. Only limited structural work was carried out to keep costs down, but the masts were altered. In 1938 the aft pom-pom was removed because of shortages and given to other ships - the replacement was two quadruple 0.5-inch (13 mm) Vickers machine gun mounts. The modifications were considered successful, and the conversion of the other eleven ships was drawn up. This was delayed though; Cairo and Calcutta did not start conversion until 1938. Instead of single guns, they were to receive twin HA mounts except that one mount was given over to a quad pom-pom. In mid 1939 Carlisle and Curacoa went in for their conversion but the conversion work ceased on the outbreak of war.