Dido's anti-aircraft fit crowded out cruiser qualities

The Dido class provided effective fleet anti-aircraft fire, but its weapons fit overcrowded a hull derived from the smaller Arethusa design. Topweight and crowding constrained balance, manoeuvring, and usefulness as general cruisers. Omitting a turret eased the balance problem, although turret-production shortages also influenced the fit. A broader and somewhat longer hull, with Leander offered as the alternative, could have carried the battery more comfortably. The criticism is that the anti-aircraft armament interfered with other cruiser duties by demanding too much of the chosen hull.