The C-class conversions surrendered much of their ability to fight surface ships in exchange for concentrated anti-aircraft fire. Coventry and Curlew received ten single 4-inch guns and two octuple pom-pom mounts in 1936. Later conversions, including Curacoa, Cairo, Carlisle, and Calcutta, used eight 4-inch guns in four twin mounts with a quadruple pom-pom. The ships retained enough speed for convoy and selected fleet duties. The D-class cruiser Delhi later demonstrated the same conversion logic with American 5-inch/38 guns and Mark 37 control. These conversions provided escort firepower while keeping older hulls useful.
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C-class conversions as true AA cruisers
The converted C-class cruisers traded most surface-combat power for concentrated 4-inch AA batteries and became fast convoy or fleet escorts.