NAVYPEDIA

Photo

Kenya 1949

Ships

Name	No	Yard No	Builder	Laid down	Launched	Comp	Fate	Modification
Fiji	58	558	John Brown, Clydebank	30.3.1938	31.5.1939	17.5.1940	sunk 22.5.1941	1st group
Kenya	14, 1948- C14	566	A. Stephens, Linthouse	18.6.1938	18.8.1939	27.9.1940	stricken 9.1958	1st group
Bermuda	52, 1948- C52	568	John Brown, Clydebank	30.11.1939	11.9.1941	21.8.1942	stricken 1962, sold for BU 8.1965	1st group
Mauritius	80, 1948- C80	1565	Swan Hunter, Wallsend	31.3.1938	19.7.1939	1.1.1941	sold for BU 3.1965	1st group
Gambia (RNZN 2.1944-3/1946)	48, 1948- C48	1575	Swan Hunter, Wallsend	24.7.1939	30.11.1940	21.2.1942	sold for BU 12.1968	1st group
Jamaica	44, 1948- C44	750	Vickers-Armstrong, Barrow	28.4.1939	16.11.1940	29.6.1942	sold for BU 12.1960	1st group
Nigeria	60, 1948- C60	12	Vickers-Armstrong, Tyne	8.2.1938	18.7.1939	23.9.1940	to India 4.1954 (Mysore)	1st group
Trinidad	46		Devonport DYd	21.4.1938	21.3.1940	14.10.1941	sunk 15.5.1942	1st group
Ceylon	30, 1948- C30	569	A. Stephens, Linthouse	27.4.1939	30.7.1942	13.7.1943	to Peru 12.1959 (Coronel Bolognesi)	2nd group
Newfoundland	59, 1948- C59	1589	Swan Hunter, Wallsend	9.11.1939	19.12.1941	20.1.1943	to Peru 11.1959 (Almirante Grau)	2nd group
Uganda, 14.1.1952 - Quebec (RCN 10.1944)	66, 1948- C66, 1951- CCL31	17	Vickers-Armstrong, Tyne	20.7.1939	7.8.1941	3.1.1943	to Canada 10.1944, stricken 6.1956	2nd group

Technical data

Max speed, kts, kn	31.5
Displacement standard, t	8530
Displacement full, t	10450 (later 10830 - 11090)
Length, m	164.0 pp 169.3 oa
Breadth, m	18.9
Draught, m	6.04 deep load (later 6.20 - 6.32)
No of shafts	4
Machinery	4 sets Parsons steam geared turbines, 4 Admiralty 3-drum boilers
Power, h. p.	72500
Fuel, t	oil 1613 - 1700
Endurance, nm(kts)	10100(12)
Armour, mm	belt: 89 - 83, bulkheads: 51 - 38, turrets: 51 - 25, barbettes: up to 25,  deck: 51 - 32
Armament	Fiji, Nigeria, Mauritius: 4 x 3 - 152/50 BL Mk XXIII, 4 x 2 - 102/45 QF Mk XVI, 2 x 4 - 40/39 2pdr QF Mk VIII, 2 x 4 - 12.7/62, 2 x 3 - 533 TT, 2 aircraft (Walrus, Swordfish, Seafox), 1 catapult D-IV-H Kenya: 4 x 3 - 152/50 BL Mk XXIII, 4 x 2 - 102/45 QF Mk XVI, 2 x 4 - 40/39 2pdr QF Mk VIII, 2 x 4 - 12.7/62, 2 x 3 - 533 TT Trinidad: 4 x 3 - 152/50 BL Mk XXIII, 4 x 2 - 102/45 QF Mk XVI, 2 x 4 - 40/39 2pdr QF Mk VIII, 4 x 4 - 12.7/62, 2 x 3 - 533 TT, 2 aircraft (Walrus, Swordfish, Seafox), 1 catapult D-IV-H Jamaica: 4 x 3 - 152/50 BL Mk XXIII, 4 x 2 - 102/45 QF Mk XVI, 2 x 4 - 40/39 2pdr QF Mk VIII, 4 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV, 2 x 3 - 533 TT, 2 aircraft (Walrus, Swordfish, Seafox), 1 catapult D-IV-H Gambia: 4 x 3 - 152/50 BL Mk XXIII, 4 x 2 - 102/45 QF Mk XVI, 2 x 4 - 40/39 2pdr QF Mk VIII, 2 x 1 - 40/39 2pdr QF Mk VIII, 2 x 3 - 533 TT, 2 aircraft (Walrus, Swordfish, Seafox, Kingfisher), 1 catapult D-IV-H Bermuda: 4 x 3 - 152/50 BL Mk XXIII, 4 x 2 - 102/45 QF Mk XVI, 2 x 4 - 40/39 2pdr QF Mk VIII, 10 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV, 2 x 3 - 533 TT, 2 aircraft (Walrus, Swordfish, Seafox, Kingfisher), 1 catapult D-IV-H Uganda: 3 x 3 - 152/50 BL Mk XXIII, 4 x 2 - 102/45 QF Mk XVI, 3 x 4 - 40/39 2pdr QF Mk VIII, 10 x 2 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV, 2 x 3 - 533 TT, 2 aircraft (Walrus, Seafox, Kingfisher, Sea Otter, Seamew), 1 catapult D-IV-H Newfoundland: 3 x 3 - 152/50 BL Mk XXIII, 4 x 2 - 102/45 QF Mk XVI, 3 x 4 - 40/39 2pdr QF Mk VIII, 8 x 2 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV, 2 x 3 - 533 TT, 2 aircraft (Walrus, Seafox, Kingfisher, Sea Otter, Seamew), 1 catapult D-IV-H Ceylon: 3 x 3 - 152/50 BL Mk XXIII, 4 x 2 - 102/45 QF Mk XVI, 3 x 4 - 40/39 2pdr QF Mk VIII, 8 x 2 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV, 2 x 3 - 533 TT
Electronic equipment	Fiji, Kenya, Nigeria, Mauritius: type 279, type 281 radars Bermuda, Gambia, Jamaica, Trinidad: type 272, type 273, type 281, type 284, type 285 radars Uganda: type 272, type 281, type 284, type 285 radars Ceylon, Newfoundland: type 272, type 281, type 283, type 284, type 285 radars
Complement	730,  920 war

Standard scale images

Graphics

Project history

Occurrence of Colony class became one of consequences of London conference in 1936, limited displacement of newly designed cruisers by 8000t. Design of Southampton class was revised under these requirements and result was more compact Fiji in which  length of hull was by more than 10m shortened at the expense of cramped arrangement. Usage of less power machinery and lighter armour allowed to keep the same armament as on a prototype, and a transom stern has given the chance to avoid strong fall of speed (on 0.5kts). Waterline belt became a little thinner but at the expense of a smaller length of the hull reached end barbettes, and thickness of an armour deck even has increased. Return to more simple vertical funnels and masts became characteristic kind of these ships.

Small metacentric height was main lack of design and it has created serious problems at wartime modernizations: it was necessary to land one of main turrets for placing of numerous AA guns and the electronic equipment on most of class in the end of war. The last 3 ships of Fiji class (2nd group) were completed under some changed design considering experience of the first year of war: with the strengthened antiaircraft armament. Because of already mentioned very cramped arrangement one main turret had landed and catapult was removed (hangars have been left, but were used for other purposes).

Protection

Armoured belt extended from "A" to "Y" barbettes and to upper deck abreast boiler rooms and fore engine room and to main deck abreast aft engine room, CCC and magazines. Its thickness was 89 mm abreast magazines and 83 mm abreast machinery. Belt was closed by 51 - 38-mm bulkheads. Armoured deck was 51-mm thick (32-mm with 38-mm slopes over steering gear). Transom stern was 38-mm thick.

Modernizations

late 1940, Fiji: + 2 x 4 - 12.7/62, type 284 radar

8/1941, Kenya: + 2 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV, 2 x 4 - 12.7/62, type 271 radar

11/1941, Nigeria: + 4 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV, type 272, type 284 radars

12/1941, Kenya: - type 271 radar; + type 273, type 284 radars

2/1942, Gambia: + 6 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV

3/1942, Mauritius: + 4 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV, type 284, type 285 radars

5/1942, Trinidad: + 2 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV

12/1942, Kenya: - 2 x 1 - 20/70, 4 x 4 - 12.7/62, type 279, type 281 radars; + 6 x 2 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV, type 281B, type 282, type 285 radars

6/1943, Mauritius: - catapult with seaplanes, 2 x 4 - 12.7/62; + 20 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV

9/1943, Nigeria: - 4 x 1 - 20/70, 2 x 4 - 12.7/62, type 272, type 279, type 281 radars; + 8 x 2 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV, type 273, type 281B radars

9/1943, Gambia: - catapult with seaplanes, 2 x 1 - 40/39, 6 x 1 - 20/70; + 10 x 2 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV, type 283 radar

9/1943, Jamaica: - catapult with seaplanes; + 6 x 2 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV, 6 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV

9/1943, Bermuda: + 6 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV

11/1943, Newfoundland: - catapult with seaplane; + 2 x 4 - 40/56 Bofors Mk 1.2, 2 x 2 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV, 2 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV

12/1943, Kenya: + 2 x 2 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV

1/1944, Nigeria: - catapult with seaplanes; + type 283 radar

4/1944, Ceylon: + 2 x 2 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV, 8 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV

5/1944, Mauritius: - type 279, type 281 radars; + type 273, type 281B radars

5/1944, Bermuda: - catapult with seaplanes, 12 x 1 - 20/70; + 8 x 2 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV

12/1944, Uganda: - 6 x 2 - 20/70, catapult with seaplanes, type 272, type 284 radars; + 2 x 4 - 40/39 2pdr QF Mk VIII, 4 x 1 - 40/39 2pdr QF Mk VIII, 8 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV, type 274, type 277, type 293 radars

11/1944, Newfoundland: - type 272, type 281, type 284 radars; + type 274, type 277, type 281B, type 293 radars

4/1945, Kenya: - 1 x 3 - 152/50 ("X"); + 2 x 2 - 40/56 Bofors Mk VIII/IX

3/1945, Bermuda: - 1 x 3 - 152/50 ("X"), 4 x 2 - 20/70, type 272, type 281, type 284 radars; + 3 x 4 - 40/39 2pdr QF Mk VIII, 4 x 1 - 40/39 2pdr QF Mk VIII, type 274, type 277, type 281B, type 293 radars

6/1945, Jamaica: - 1 x 3 - 152/50 ("X"), 4 x 2 - 20/70; + 3 x 4 - 40/39 2pdr QF Mk VIII, 4 x 1 - 40/39 2pdr QF Mk VIII

6/1945, Uganda: - 4 x 2 - 20/70, type 272, type 281 radar; + 4 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV, type 281B radar

8/1945, Kenya: - 8 x 2 - 20/70; + 3 x 2 - 40/56 Bofors Mk VIII/IX, 8 x 1 - 40/56 Bofors Mk III

8/1945, Bermuda: - 2 x 2 - 20/70, 2 x 1 - 20/70; + 4 x 1 - 40/56 Bofors Mk III

9/1945, Ceylon: - 4 x 2 - 20/70, 6 x 1 - 20/70; + 4 x 1 - 40/56 Bofors Mk III

8/1945, Mauritius: - 1 x 3 - 152/50 ("X"), type 273, type 281B, type 284 radars; + 3 x 4 - 40/39 2pdr QF Mk VIII, type 275, type 277, type 293, type 960 radars

late 1945, Jamaica: - 4 x 1 - 40/39; + 2 x 1 - 40/56 Bofors Mk III

10/1945, Nigeria: + 4 x 1 - 40/56 Bofors Mk III

1.1946, Bermuda: 3 x 3 - 152/50 Mk XXII, 4 x 2 - 102/45 Mk XIX, 4 x 1 - 40/60 Mk III, 5 x 4 - 40/39 Mk VII, 4 x 1 - 40/39 Mk VIII, 2 x 2 - 20/70 Mk V, 2 x 1 - 20/70 Mk III, 2 x 3 - 533 TT, type 273, type 274, type 277, type 281B, type 285, type 293 radars

3.1946, Gambia: 4 x 3 - 152/50 Mk XXII, 4 x 2 - 102/45 Mk XIX, 2 x 4 - 40/39 Mk VII, 10 x 2 - 20/70 Mk V, 2 x 3 - 533 TT, type 272, type 273, type 281, type 283, type 284, type 285 radars

1.1946, Jamaica: 3 x 3 - 152/50 Mk XXII, 4 x 2 - 102/45 Mk XIX, 2 x 1 - 40/60 Mk III, 5 x 4 - 40/39 Mk VII, 2 x 2 - 20/70 Mk V, 10 x 1 - 20/70 Mk III, 2 x 3 - 533 TT, type 272, type 273, type 281, type 284, type 285 radars

1.1946, Kenya: 3 x 3 - 152/50 Mk XXII, 4 x 2 - 102/45 Mk XIX, 5 x 2 - 40/60 RP.50 Mk V, 8 x 1 - 40/60 Mk III, 2 x 4 - 40/39 Mk VII, 2 x 3 - 533 TT, type 273, type 281B, type 282, type 284, type 285 radars

1.1946, Nigeria: 4 x 3 - 152/50 Mk XXII, 4 x 2 - 102/45 Mk XIX, 4 x 1 - 40/60 Mk III, 2 x 4 - 40/39 Mk VII, 8 x 2 - 20/70 Mk V, 2 x 3 - 533 TT, type 273, type 281B, type 283, type 284 radars

1.1946, Mauritius: 3 x 3 - 152/50 Mk XXII, 4 x 2 - 102/45 Mk XIX, 5 x 4 - 40/39 Mk VII, 24 x 1 - 20/70 Mk III, 2 x 3 - 533 TT, type 275, type 277, type 285, type 293, type 960 radars

1.1946, Ceylon: 3 x 3 - 152/50 Mk XXII, 4 x 2 - 102/45 Mk XIX, 4 x 1 - 40/60 Mk III, 3 x 4 - 40/39 Mk VII, 6 x 2 - 20/70 Mk V, 2 x 1 - 20/70 Mk III, 2 x 3 - 533 TT, type 272, type 281, type 283, type 284, type 285 radars

1.1946, Newfoundland: 3 x 3 - 152/50 Mk XXII, 4 x 2 - 102/45 Mk XIX, 2 x 4 - 40/60 Mk 2, 3 x 4 - 40/39 Mk VII, 10 x 2 - 20/70 Mk V, 2 x 1 - 20/70 Mk III, 2 x 3 - 533 TT, type 274, type 277, type 281B, type 283, type 285, type 293 radars

1954, Nigeria: - 1 x 3 - 152/50 ("X"); + 2x type 275 radars

1956, Newfoundland: + 2x type 275 radars

1956, Ceylon: + 2x type 262 radars

Naval service

Fiji was damaged 1.9.1940 by torpedo from German submarine U32 and was repaired for 6 months, she was again damaged 22.5.1941 off Crete coast by 3 direct hits and 1 near-miss of German air bombs (1 Bf 109 fghter and 1 Ju 88 bomber), abandoned, torpedoed by destroyer Matchless and sunk in 5 hours. Kenya was damaged by torpedo from Italian submarine Alagi 12.8.1942 and repaired till January, 1943. Nigeria was damaged by torpedo from talian submarine Axum 12.8.1942 and repaired till June, 1943. Trinidad was damaged by German air torpedo in Arctic 29.3.1942, temporarily repaired at Murmansk, again damaged by German bomb 15.5.1942 on way to Britain and was sunk by escort. Uganda was damaged by German FX1400 gliding bomb 13.9.1943 and repaired till October, 1944. Newfoundland was damaged by torpedo from Italian submarine Ascianghi 23.7.1943 and repaired till November, 1944.

Many thanks to Wolfgang Stöhr for additional information on this page.