Repulse underwent several refits and a reconstruction before the Second World War. A further full reconstruction was scheduled after Hood's planned modernization, but war disrupted the sequence. Renown's more extensive rebuilding replaced so much machinery and equipment that much of the twenty-three-year-old ship was comparatively new by 1939. Her revised battery included six 15-inch guns and twenty 4.5-inch dual-purpose guns, showing how reconstruction could renew combat value without changing her intended battlecruiser role.
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Reconstruction left Renown and Repulse at different stages
Repeated refits renewed both ships, but Renown received the more complete reconstruction while Repulse awaited another major rebuilding after Hood.