The Royal Navy paired escort carriers with two Didos or with a Dido and a Tribal-class destroyer during strikes supporting forces in Southeast Asia. The cruisers had command facilities and space for staff that small escort carriers lacked. Their guns also deterred light surface forces from making a run at the carriers. This made a Dido suitable for directing a small fleet operation as well as protecting it. The requirement could be met without assigning a heavier cruiser to the group.
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Didos as escort-carrier command ships
In Indian Ocean operations, Didos supplied staff space, command facilities, and protective firepower that small escort carriers could not provide themselves.