Minotaur-class cruiser (1947)

The Minotaur class, or Design Z, was a proposed class of light cruisers planned for the British Royal Navy shortly after the Second World War. Design Z had several proposed configurations with differing armament and propulsion arrangements. The designs were large ships that were planned to be armed with ten 6 in (152 mm) dual purpose guns and an extensive array of 3 in (76 mm) secondary guns. Six ships of the class were planned in 1947 but they were ultimately cancelled before construction could begin, owing to the post-war economic difficulties of the United Kingdom and shifting naval priorities.

Class overview
NameDesign Z (Minotaur)
Operators Royal Navy
Preceded byNeptune class (planned)
Succeeded byTiger class (actual)
Planned6
Cancelled6
General characteristics Design Z, Version D
TypeLight cruiser
Displacement15,280 long tons (15,530 t) standard 18,415 long tons (18,711 t) deep load
Length645 ft (197 m) pp
Beam75 ft (23 m)
Draught24 ft 0 in (7.32 m)
Installed power100,000 shp (75 MW)
Propulsion
Speed33.5 kn (62.0 km/h; 38.6 mph) (light) 31.5 kn (58.3 km/h; 36.2 mph) (deep load)
Range6,000 nmi (11,000 km; 6,900 mi) at 20 knots (37 km/h)
Complement1,090
Armament
  • 5 × dual 6 in QF Mk V guns
  • 8 × twin 3 in QF Mk VI AA guns
  • 4× quadruple 21 in (533 mm) torpedo tubes
Armour
  • Belt 3.5 in (89 mm)
  • Bulkheads 3.5–2 in (89–51 mm)
  • Turrets 4–1.5 in (102–38 mm)
  • Decks 1.5 in (38 mm)
General characteristics Design ZA alternative
Class and typeLight cruiser
Displacement13,870 long tons (14,090 t) standard 16,760 long tons (17,030 t) deep load
Length616 ft (188 m) pp
Beam73 ft (22 m)
Draught23 ft 6 in (7.16 m)
Installed power110,000 shp (82 MW)
Propulsion
Speed33.5 kn (62.0 km/h; 38.6 mph) (light) 31.5 kn (58.3 km/h; 36.2 mph) (deep load)
Range6,000 nmi (11,000 km; 6,900 mi) at 20 knots (37 km/h)
Complement1,090
Armament
  • 5 × dual 6 in QF Mk V guns
  • 8 × twin 3 in QF Mk VI AA guns
  • 4× quadruple 21 in (533 mm) torpedo tubes
Armour
  • Belt 3.5 in (89 mm)
  • Bulkheads 3.5–2 in (89–51 mm)
  • Turrets 4–1.5 in (102–38 mm)
  • Decks 1.5 in (38 mm)
NotesSmaller alternative of main Minotaur design
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