HMS Vindictive was one of the cruisers converted for depot work. She spent much of the Second World War moving between support assignments instead of serving as a conventional cruiser. Her viable powered hull offered internal volume for stores, workshops, and flotilla services. Conversion conserved resources while giving an aging combatant a role suited to its remaining strengths.
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HMS Vindictive as a converted depot ship
HMS Vindictive provides a named example of the Royal Navy converting an older cruiser into a depot ship rather than building every support vessel from scratch.