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FIGHTING SHIPS OF THE WORLD
NEW ZEALAND
CRUISERS
BLACK PRINCE light cruisers (1943/1946-1956)
Ships
| 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 |
Technical data
| 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 |
Standard scale images
Black Prince 1946
Royalist 1960
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.
