Radar, Arctic convoy cover, and Operation Torch

The 1941 fit included Type 284 surface-fire-control radar, Type 285 anti-aircraft gunnery radar, Type 281 air warning, and Type 271 surface search, along with two more quadruple pom-pom mounts. The earlier reconstruction had already added the cabling and generating capacity needed to accept that suite. Useful modernization needed adaptable electrical infrastructure as well as immediately visible weapons. Renown became deputy fleet flagship when Duke of York carried Winston Churchill to the Arcadia Conference, then covered inbound and outbound Soviet convoys. She later led Force W while carriers delivered fighters to Malta and returned to Force H for Operation Torch. Technical preparation kept an older capital ship useful across fleet command, convoy cover, aviation support, and amphibious operations.