Would a 10,000-to-12,000-ton Royal Navy cruiser with six 6-inch guns and twelve 3-inch guns trade its forward 76 mm mount for six Exocet launchers after four 3-inch guns were replaced by Sea Cat?
Short answerThe ship would probably keep the forward 76 mm mount because a hull that large should have other deck space for Exocet launchers.
NotesA hypothetical 10,000-to-12,000-ton cruiser could probably fit six Exocet launchers without removing its forward 76 mm mount. The proposed battery has six 6-inch guns and twelve 3-inch guns, with four of the smaller guns later replaced by Sea Cat. The suggested layout places two twin 6-inch turrets forward and one aft, with six twin 3-inch mounts distributed along the sides and at either end. Replacing two side mounts with Sea Cat would leave the forward gun in place. Exocet could sit forward, one deck below the 3-inch mount and slightly farther aft. The arrangement depends on that assumed gun layout and the available deck space.