The cruiser first appears as a gunnery training success, winning the commander-in-chief's artillery prize in 1955. In 1957 she received facilities for helicopter landing and takeoff experiments. That pairing shows the class serving as both a conventional gun platform and a test bed for new fleet capabilities. The trials did not turn the ship into a helicopter cruiser, but they demonstrated how a roomy hull could support naval-aviation experimentation. Limited trials could extend the class's usefulness without requiring a full conversion program.
Notable Point · 41:47-43:28
Helicopter trials widened the class's training and experimental value
One sister combined prize-winning artillery training with 1957 helicopter landing and takeoff trials, revealing uses beyond the original gun-cruiser mission.