Which Town-class cruiser had the most wartime experience?

Which Town-class cruiser was the most experienced during the Second World War?

The answer depends on the measure used, with HMS Birmingham, HMS Newcastle, and HMS Sheffield the strongest contenders.

A viewer notes that HMS Belfast missed much of 1940-42 while under repair and asks how that affects her reputation within the Town class. The comparison is left open for a dedicated class discussion, though the leading alternatives are named. HMS Birmingham, HMS Newcastle, and HMS Sheffield are the contenders for the greatest wartime experience. The result depends on how experience is counted rather than on a single obvious ranking. The exchange separates modern fame and museum survival from the operational record of the whole class.