NAVYPEDIA

Support the project with paypal


HOME
FIGHTING SHIPS OF THE WORLD
UNITED KINGDOM
CRUISERS
SUPERB light cruisers (4, 1945 - 1961)


Photo



Superb 1947

Ships


Name No Yard No Builder Laid down Launched Comp Fate
Bellerophon (ex-Blake, ex-Tiger)   52 Vickers-Armstrong, Tyne --- --- --- cancelled 3.1946
Blake (ex-Tiger, ex-Blake) C99 778 Fairfield, Govan 17.8.1942 20.12.1945 8.3.1961 sold for BU 10.1982
Lion (ex-Defence) C34 611 Scotts, Greenock/Swan Hunter, Wallsend 24.6.1942 2.9.1944 20.7.1960 stricken 1972
Hawke     Portsmouth DYd 9/1943 --- --- cancelled 1.1946
Superb 25, 1948- C25 1683 Swan Hunter, Wallsend 23.6.1942 31.8.1943 16.11.1945 stricken 1957
Tiger (ex-Bellerophon) C20 593 John Brown, Clydebank 1.10.1941 25.10.1945 18.3.1959 sold for BU 9.1986


Technical data


Max speed, kts, kn

31.5

31.5

Data variantas designed, Superb as completed Blake, Lion, Tiger as completed
Displacement standard, t

8885

9550

Displacement full, t

11560

11700

Length, m

164.0 pp 169.3 oa

163.8 pp 169.3 oa

Breadth, m

19.5

19.5

Draught, m

6.43 deep load

7.00

No of shafts

4

4

Machinery

4 sets Parsons geared steam turbines, 4 Admiralty 3-drum boilers

4 sets Parsons geared steam turbines, 4 Admiralty 3-drum boilers

Power, h. p.

72500

80000

Fuel, t

oil 1900

oil 1900

Endurance, nm(kts) 
Armour, mm

belt: 89 - 83, bulkheads: 51 - 38, turrets: 51 - 25, barbettes: up to 25, deck: 51 - 32

belt: 89 - 76, bulkheads: 51 - 25, turrets: 51 - 25, deck over machinery and magazines: 51

Armament

Superb: 3 x 3 - 152/50 BL Mk XXIII, 5 x 2 - 102/45 QF Mk XVI, 4 x 4 - 40/39 2pdr QF Mk VIII, 2 x 1 - 40/39 2pdr QF Mk VIII, 8 x 1 - 40/56 Bofors Mk III, 2 x 2 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV, 2 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV, 2 x 3 - 533 TT

2 x 2 - 152/50 Mk 26, 3 x 2 - 76/70 Mk 6

Electronic equipmentSuperb: type 277, type 281B, 2x type 282, type 283, type 284, type 285, type 293 radars type 277Q, 5x type 903, type 960, type 992Q radars
Complement

867

880



Standard scale images


<i>nearly sister-ship Swiftsure</i> 1944 (similar as <i>Superb</i>)
nearly sister-ship Swiftsure 1944 (similar as Superb)


Graphics


<i>Superb</i> 1947
Superb 1947
<i>Lion</i> 1960
Lion 1960


Project history

Little modified design of Swiftsure with larger hull beam and increased number of AA guns.

Protection

Armoured belt extended from "A" to "Y" barbettes and to upper deck abreast boiler rooms and fore engine room and to main deck abreast aft engine room, CCC and magazines. Its thickness was 89mm abreast magazines and 83mm abreast machinery. Belt was closed by 51-38mm bulkheads. Armoured deck was 51mm thick (32mm with 38mm slopes over steering gear). Transom stern was 38mm thick. Downtakes had additional 76mm protection.

Modernizations

Superb was never modernized. Blake, Lion and Tiger were completed by new design.

1/1946, Superb: 3 x 3 - 152/50 Mk XXII, 5 x 2 - 102/45 Mk XIX, 8 x 1 - 40/60 Mk III, 4 x 4 - 40/39 Mk VII, 2 x 1 - 40/39 Mk VIII, 2 x 2 - 20/70 Mk V, 2 x 1 - 20/70 Mk III, 2 x 3 - 533 TT

Naval service

No significant events.

TIGER CLASS