Naval FUZZY ideas

[ysi_maniac]

I have an Airfix 1/600 Belfast model. Quite detailed and nice IMO.
My proposal:
Modernization of HMS BELFAST into a missile cruiser. More or less like this (see attach) cancelled italian project. Perhaps something earlier, 50s, I would say.
Please tell me your ideas/comments/contributions.

Thanks in advance.

[ysi_maniac]

I have an Airfix 1/600 Amazon model too.
I only know that I want to make something but I really do not know what.
Please tell me your ideas/comments/contributions.

Thanks in advance.

[Weaver]

Well what I've always thought for a modernised Belfast is this: get the Airfix HMS Devonshire and transfer the weapons to make a Seaslug-armed missile cruiser. Seaslug aft with a long magazine room ahead of it, twin 4.5" Mk.6 guns amidships to replace the foremost 4" (land all the others) and Sea Cat on the hanger roofs. The hangers themselves would be converted into extra command spaces and the ship's boats moved forward to the former catapult deck. Keep the triple 6" forwards for gunfire support. The 901 tracker goes on the aft part of the Seaslug magazine roof and the 965 search radar on a wide pyramid mast ahead of it. You need an extra 4.5" director in order to have two amidships and the GWS.20 Sea Cat directors go adjacent to the launchers.

It's mission is Amphipious Group support: the SAMs provide cover from air attack and the guns provide shore bombardment.

[ysi_maniac]

What if allied had built Pocket Battleships in WWII?
For instance, said HMS Belfast with just 2 triple turrets, 10inch guns or so.

[proditor]

IIRC, JoeP did a nice baby battleship with twin turrets.

[pyro-manic]

What if allied had built Pocket Battleships in WWII?
For instance, said HMS Belfast with just 2 triple turrets, 10inch guns or so.

Belfast isn't beamy enough for 10" guns, IMO, especially not triple turrets. She's a very slender ship. Maybe 4x2 8" turrets (like those from the Exeter class) to make a decent-ish heavy cruiser?

[Joe C-P]

Consider the US single-ended light cruisers. Other countries bought US AA missile systems, including Italy and France; perhaps the RN could be convinced to do the same, perhaps in exchange for the US buying some British systems.