HMS Swiftsure (08)

History
United Kingdom
Name	Swiftsure
Builder	Vickers Armstrong, Newcastle upon Tyne
Laid down	22 September 1941
Launched	4 February 1943
Commissioned	22 June 1944
Decommissioned	1958
Identification	Pennant number: 08
Fate	Scrapped, 1962
General characteristics
Class & type	Minotaur-class light cruiser
Displacement	8,800 tons standard; 11,130 tons full;
Length	555.5 ft (169.3 m)
Beam	63 ft (19 m)
Draught	17.25 ft (5.26 m)
Propulsion	Four Admiralty-type three drum boilers; Four shaft Parsons steam turbines; 72,500 shp (54,100 kW);
Speed	31.5 kn (58.3 km/h; 36.2 mph)
Range	2,000 nmi (3,700 km; 2,300 mi) at 30 kn (56 km/h; 35 mph); 8,000 nmi (15,000 km; 9,200 mi) at 16 kn (30 km/h; 18 mph); 1,850 tons fuel oil;
Complement	867
Armament	3 x triple BL 6 inch Mk XXIII naval guns; 5 x dual QF 4 inch Mark XVI guns HA; 4 x quad 2 pdr (40 mm) guns; 6 x single 40 mm AA cannons; 2 x triple 21 inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes.;
Armour	Belt 3.25–3.5 in (83–89 mm); Deck 2 in (51 mm); Turrets 1–2 in (25–51 mm); Bulkheads 1.5–2 in (38–51 mm);

HMS Swiftsure was one of three Minotaur-class light cruisers built for the Royal Navy during the Second World War. She was laid down by Vickers Armstrong at Newcastle upon Tyne on 22 September 1941, launched on 4 February 1943 by Lady Wake-Walker, and commissioned on 22 June 1944. She was the first of the new Minotaur class, a development of the later Colony-class cruisers, featuring increased beam and an additional fifth twin 4-inch turret.

Swiftsure was the last Royal Navy cruiser to be completed during the war and the first British cruiser to be designed with an operations room and modern radar systems. Her sensor displays and communications were arranged for improved operational efficiency. During her service in the Pacific in 1945, she was regarded as the most effective anti-aircraft cruiser in the fleet, and was the first Royal Navy cruiser equipped with the Type 274 lock-and-follow radar targeting system for her main armament.