Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 1:59:31-1:59:53

Why Leander lacked triple turrets but Arethusa could use them

Triple 6-inch mounts arrived too late for the Leander design, while an Arethusa derivative could adopt them once the machinery existed.

Arethusa Class Light Cruisers (1934)Leander Class Light Cruisers (1931)Light CruisersNaval GunsWarship Design
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Question

Could the Leander and Arethusa classes have been built with triple 6-inch turrets?

Short answer

The Leanders were too early for the mount; an Arethusa derivative could use it once developed.

Notes

The Leander class could not simply receive triple 6-inch turrets because the required mount had not yet been developed when the design was fixed. By the Arethusa generation, the technical option existed. The Argentine cruiser La Argentina provides an example of an Arethusa-related design carrying triple mounts. The comparison shows how apparently modest armament changes depend on the maturity of turret machinery as well as available hull space.