Sirius

A great ship had a good three months on her with the RNR.

There was a time when Portsmouth CC wanted to save this ship as an exhibit for the dockyard being at that time the last warship to be built at Portmouth.

Still can't understand why they needed to remove the gun to get 4 Exocet cannisters onboard. Some might say weight issues but then look at the Type 21s.

I think if naval architects had knowlage of the up and coming falklands war these conversions would have perhaps taken a different slant.

It's too bad the british would not buy the Italian Oto melera 76mm for the conversion which i'm sure could have been place infront of the exocet launchers. Sea cat should have been ditched at the rear for a Vulcan Phananx, but I guess in the late 70's CIWS was just in early production. The dutch managed a good conversion with their Leanders, mounting the Oto Melera up front and Harpoon midships. Unfortunatly they retained their Seacat at the rear.

Seawolfs were the unltimate conversion but sadley no room or weight allowance for a gun though.

I agree with your sentiments Macca. But I thought I read on this site somewhere that the Oto Melara was a "pop gun". Struck me as a strange comment, as so many ships in so many Navies seem to be equipping their ships with the weapon.

I am surprised they removed the front Exocet launcher mounts. Never seen them remove them from a decomissioned Leander before. Certainly would not have been required for spares!