File talk:HMS Argonaut.png

The photo (date unknown) is probably a shot of the cruiser shortly after its completion in 1942 or at the start of 1943 before it suffered major combat damaged. Argonaut is one of four of the Dido class cruisers reconstructed in the United States in the 1943-45 period for a new role as picket ships for air warning and aircraft direction for RN and USN task forces and carrier groups in the Pacific. The 4 cruisers had Q turret removed and the radar fit updated and expanded. Argonaut and Euralyus were fitted with four quad pom pom ( British 40mm quads inferior to the Bofors in accuracy) and the Cleopatra and Phoebe three USN quad Bofors, all 4 ships having the quad mounts in Q position and on the flanks and radar controlled.Substantial reconstruction gave much more effective arcs of fire for these CIWS and proved very effective AA against head on air attack over the bows, which was found to often the mode of air attack experienced in the Mediterranean. Argonaut was commissioned a year late in 1942 due to late delivery of its 5.25 turrets and not used after the war probably due to the cummulative delayed effect of tremendous wartime accident damage. Is selection for reconstruction was due to its availability for rebuilding following action damage- the other three rebuilt ships were the Dido/ Improved Dido class cruisers mainly used by the RN post war for 8-9 years in commission as the cruiser reconstructed in US yards were much more effectively and cleanly rebuilt in the United States compared with British yards were security was less effective during the war years and available materials and tools inferior. The ships rebuilt in the US tended to last years longer before requiring major refitting, than those rebuilt in the UK. — Preceding unsigned comment was added by 180.210.208.84 (talk) 02:10, 13 April 2017 (UTC)