The larger Hawkins or Frobisher hulls offer more room than the overburdened Leander proposal, and their obsolete 7.5-inch battery makes conversion more attractive. Removing a unique gun calibre also eliminates the need to sustain its ammunition supply. The existing weapons and their supports amount to a weight close enough to several triple 6-inch turrets to make the exercise plausible on a 10,000-ton hull. Former wing-gun positions already have useful magazine access and could support several twin 4.5-inch mounts, while the deck plan leaves room for close-range pom-poms. The resulting ship would combine a cruiser-sized surface battery with substantial dual-purpose fire for convoy work. Its plausibility rests on displacement, weapon weight, ammunition routes, and available positions, although it remains a counterfactual yard design.
Chapter · 24:48-29:46
Hawkins hulls offer room for a heavier conversion
A 10,000-ton Hawkins-class hull can trade its obsolete 7.5-inch battery for triple 6-inch turrets, multiple 4.5-inch mounts, and close-range anti-aircraft weapons.