HMS Aurora

Lovely photo of a beaut ship. I had a personal connection with Aurora, and very fond memories of her working out of Devonport. The Leanders have yet to be bettered.
May I take a copy of this great photo?

Go ahead. RN public relations photo anyway.

That is a lovely photo, and makes the ugly Ikara conversion photogenic.

Although there is much discussion on Ikara being a poinless weapon with torpedos having greater range from a helo, however the type 12s/Leanders were designed to run at full speed in any sea state in the north althantic to chase down subs, probably in conditions where Helo operations were impossible, so I can see how a Rocket launched torpedo at the touch of a button seemed like a great Idea at the time and if accurate would have been very effective.

I know its argued that it was a question of weight, so how did the Aussies manage to put Ikara on their river class without losing the turret? saving eweight, change to lattice masts, remove funnel cap (awas done in the later conversions to seawolf), remove the Limbo.... There must have been a way, as it was they looked toothless against surface threats.

I dont think it was so much about weight. If you think logicaly you are chasing a sub in the north at atlantic at full speed, surely you have the best line of sight and range if you deploy the Ikara from the front of the ship, part of the reason the launcer was so high was that they could get one off in very rough weather. if it was down aft like the Aussi arangement you could not launch in those conditions and if you did you would lose half your effective range as the missle would have to do a full arc before it was going forward, plus the Aussi ships had no helo or hanger. I dont think you need a gun when all you do is chase subs, plus we had enough ships back then to send one with a gun aswell if required.

There is only so much you can squeze onto a small frigate like a leander, other navies do fit more weapons but compromised the excellent sea keeping abilities the Leander was designed for.

A lovely photo psandeman....We all have a favourites and for me i liked the Ikara Leanders.There was a great B/W photo of HMS Ajax published on here a few weeks back.

I don't know about losing half the effective range, according to my old Janes, the Ikara range was about 13miles, so a ships length would be niether here nor there, but I can see your point re keeping the launcher high and dry. Just can't see how they could consider them frigates with two Bofors and two twin Seacat launchers.
I suppose nowadays with the reductions we would be grateful of her ships boats, let alone the real thing.