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Playable light cruiser dido.They were designed as fleet escorts to protect heavier units from both light surface forces and aircraft.The selection of the 5.25 turret as the main armament with 80 lb shells the heaviest liftable by man, was to maximise surface action power while providing some anti air capability in the confined Mediterranean. This remains questionable. The Dido and Improved Didos were flawed because the 5.25 shells weight meant fire rates of only 7.5rpm were sustainable with short bursts of 10rpm in the first 2 minutes. RN 4.5 mounts were more successful when applied in the DP role in these ships. Small 6 inch gunned cruisers like the Arethusa were arguably better in the Mediterranean while the Improved Dido's main role as a picket ship in the Pacific in late WW2 and postwar with the RNZN was hindred by short range and general overloading of the class. The (1933) 6 inch Leanders might have more useful as pickets with long range and long life. The Board of Admiralty and many of the RN's leading ship designers strongly favoured the 5.25 ships. Many thought all new cruisers should have had no more powerful armament from 1942 because the 5.25 turret, weighing 78-96 tons, was so much more compact above and below decks compared with 6 inch Mk 23 turret and Mk 24,25 and Mk 26 semi and fully auto turrets being developed at the time. The latter weighed 175-205 tons and the 5.25 appeared to have plenty of potential for automation and better shells. The 5.25 merits had been borne out by good results in actions against Italian cruisers and in convoy defence in the Mediterranean in 1941-3. The only real problem with the type was the early war shortage of gun-mountings and a need to stiffen them forward to take the weight of the forward turrets.
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