Norfolk 1943
| Name | No | Yard No | Builder | Laid down | Launched | Comp | Fate |
| Dorsetshire | 40 | Portsmouth DYd | 21.9.1927 | 29.1.1929 | 30.9.1930 | sunk 5.4.1942 | |
| Norfolk | 78, 1948- C78 | 628 | Fairfield, Govan | 8.7.1927 | 12.12.1928 | 30.4.1930 | sold for BU 1.1950 |
|
Displacement standard, t |
9925 - 9975 (Norfolk finally about 10900) |
|
Displacement full, t |
13425 (Norfolk finally 14600) |
|
Length, m |
181.4 pp 192.9 - 193.7 oa |
|
Breadth, m |
20.1 |
|
Draught, m |
6.37 deep load (Norfolk finally 6.91) |
|
No of shafts |
4 |
|
Machinery |
4 sets Parsons geared steam turbines, 8 Admiralty 3-drum boilers |
|
Power, h. p. |
80000 |
|
Max speed, kts |
32.3 |
|
Fuel, t |
oil 3210 (later 3005) |
| Endurance, nm(kts) | 12500(12) |
| Armour, mm |
box protection to magazines: 102 - 25, belt: 25, barbettes: 25, turrets: 25, deck: 38 - 25 |
|
Armament |
4 x 2 - 203/50 BL Mk VIII, 4 x 1 - 102/45 QF Mk V, 4 x 1 - 47/40 Hotchkiss Mk I, 4 x 1 - 40/39 2pdr QF Mk II, 2 x 4 - 533 TT |
|
Complement |
710 |
Project history: Ships of 1926 Programme repeated cruisers of London class but had new Mk II turrets.
Protection: Magazines were protected by 111 (102mm armour on 9mm plating) - 25mm sides and 76 - 25mm platform deck. Machinery was protected by 25mm bulkheads and 32mm deck. Steering gear had 38 - 25mm horizontal protection.
Modernizations: 1931, both: + 1 Flycatcher seaplane (plane launched from water)
1932, both: + 1 catapult S-II-L (Flycatcher was replaced by Osprey 1934)
1933, both: + 2 x 4 - 12.7/62
1937, both: - 4 x 1 - 102/45, 4 x 1 - 40/39, 1 catapult with seaplane; + 4 x 2 - 102/45 QF Mk XVI, 2 x 8 - 40/39 2pdr QF Mk VIII, 1 catapult E-IV-H with 1 Walrus seaplane
1939, both: - 4 x 1 - 47/40
6/1940, Norfolk: + 2 x 20 - 178 UP AA rockets projectors, type 286M radar
9/1941, Norfolk: - 2 x 4 - 12.7/62, 2 x 20 - 178 UP; + 6 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV, type 273, type 281, type 284, type 285 radars
early 1942, Dorsetshire: + 9 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV
10/1942, Norfolk: + 3 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV
5/1943, Norfolk: - catapult with seaplane; + 3 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV
11/1944, Norfolk: - 1 x 2 - 203/50 ("X"), 2 x 8 - 40/39, 2 x 1 - 20/70, type 273, type 281, type 284, type 286M radars; + 6 x 4 - 40/39 2pdr QF Mk VIII, 11 x 2 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV, type 274, type 277, type 282, type 283, type 293 radars; displacement was 10900/14600t
9/1945, Norfolk: - 10 x 1 - 20/70; + 10 x 1 - 40/56 Bofors Mk I/III
1/1946, Norfolk: 3 x 2 - 203/50 Mk II, 4 x 2 - 102/45 Mk XIX, 10 x 1 - 40/60 Mk III, 6 x 4 - 40/39 Mk VII, 11 x 2 - 20/70 Mk V, 2 x 4 - 533 TT, type 274, type 277, type 282, type 283, type 285, type 293 radars
Naval service: Dorsetshire was sunk by Japanese carrier aircraft (D3A1 diving bombers from Akagi, Hiryu and Soryu) 5.4.1942 (she received up to 10 bombing hits in 8 minutes). Norfolk participated in battle with German battlecruiser Scharnhorst 26.12.1943, received 2 hits of 283mm shells, repair lasted 10 months.
Many thanks to Wolfgang Stöhr for additional information on this page.
© Ivan Gogin, 2008-15