An item referred to the magazine U.S.R. dated 4 May 1939 reporting that since the large British naval shipbuilding program started 35 escort and patrol vessels were completed. In the same period were 16 older cruisers converted into air defence cruisers. Originally designed to escort convoys were these cruisers now due to their anti aircraft armament also suitable for defending important harbours. Their new armament consisted of 10-10cm anti aircraft guns and 11 heavy machineguns.(1) If necessary could every minute 200-30 pd shells be fired excluded the fire of the machineguns.
Note
1. In the Second World War was the Dutch flotilla leader of light cruiser Hr.Ms. Jacob van Heemskerck also converted into an air defence cruiser. She was laid down on 31 October 1938 at the Dutch shipyard Nederlandsche Scheepsbouw Maatschappij at Amsterdam, launched on 16 September 1939, commissioned on 10 May 1940 she escaped to England where she was temporarily armed. July 1940 started her conversion at Portsmouth into an air defence cruiser which was finished on 17 February 1941. She became a legendary ship while not a single convoy ship was lost when she was serving. In 1970 sold to be broken up. She was in wartime armed with 5x2-10,2cm guns, 4x2-4cm guns, 8-2cm anti aircraft guns and 2 depth charge rails.
