Why HMS Belfast was repaired after her back was broken

How close was HMS Belfast to being scrapped after a mine broke her back?

She might have been scrapped later in the war, but early cruiser shortages, repairable damage, and the chance to modernise made retention worthwhile.

Belfast might have been scrapped had the same damage occurred a year later, when Crown Colony cruisers were arriving faster. At the time, however, the Royal Navy possessed a nearly complete modern cruiser whose damage appeared easier to repair than many alternatives. Material shortages lengthened the work, and the service used the repair period to carry out a wider upgrade. The opportunity to modernise reinforced a decision initially driven by scarcity and the sound condition of the rest of the ship.