The largest escort-cruiser study quoted for December 1961 displaced 13,250 tons and combined 28 Seaslug missiles, two Sea Cat launchers, a twin 4.5-inch mount and nine helicopters. Its complement was 106 officers and 970 ratings, with a quoted cost of £19.25 million. Criticism centres on whether that combination provides enough of any capability to justify the ship. A 1962 revision is described as accommodating Chinooks, replacing Seaslug and Sea Cat with two Sea Dart launchers, and reducing displacement to 10,000 tons and cost to £16.5 million. Buying four Polaris submarines deferred the escort cruisers while leaving them in long-term plans. Their proposed role included taking helicopters off CVA-01 so its air group could concentrate on fixed-wing aircraft; Invincible later retained fixed-wing capability through a difficult period for the Royal Navy.
Notable Point · 3:31:41-3:34:33
The escort-cruiser studies deferred by Polaris
A 13,250-ton helicopter-and-missile cruiser was revised and deferred as Polaris spending took priority, while its aviation role remained in longer-term planning.