The Dido design called for five twin 5.25-inch mounts with good all-round arcs. Shortages and continuing development of the gun meant that not every ship completed with the intended battery. HMS Phoebe initially carried a 4-inch mount in one planned 5.25-inch position, though whether it was a twin mounting is uncertain in this account. Some officers saw value in retaining a dedicated high-angle weapon alongside the dual-purpose main battery. Weapon production could therefore alter a class's intended armament as ships entered service.
Notable Point · 52:14-54:11
Armament shortages changed early Dido completions
The intended five-turret 5.25-inch battery was not always available, forcing substitutions that reveal how weapon production reshaped the class in service.