Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 1:31:22-1:32:59

HMS London's extensive cruiser refit

HMS London's distinctive appearance came from an unusually extensive modernization that war denied to her sisters.

County Class CruisersHMS LondonLive Q&ARoyal NavyShip RefitsTown Class Light Cruisers (1936)
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Question

What happened to HMS London before and during the Second World War, and why did she look so different from the other County-class cruisers?

Short answer

London received the planned major reconstruction, including a Town-class-style superstructure that created space for internal rearrangement. War prevented similar work on her sisters.

Notes

HMS London was the first County-class cruiser to receive a reconstruction intended for more of the class. Designers used a Town-class-style superstructure because it was the best modern arrangement available. The larger structure also allowed machinery, services, and other internal elements to be redistributed inside the existing hull. War interrupted the wider program before her sisters could receive equivalent work. Despite its rushed implementation and remaining problems, the refit is judged reasonably successful.