British heavy cruisers Norfolk, Devonshire and York built under the 1926 Programme completed in 1930

HMS Dorsetshire. ©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com

The three British cruisers allowed to be built under the 1926 Programme were completed. It were the ‘A’-cruisers of 10,000 tons HMS Norfolk (1) and Dorsetshire (2) and the 8,400 tons ‘B’’-cruiser York (3). The design of the 32.25 knots ‘A’ cruisers was similar to the County-class London sub-class design, both designs were of Sir William J. Berry (4) with the maximum Washington displacement of 10,000 tons and armed with 8-20.32cm/8” guns. Due to the London limitations of a maximum 15 cruisers with-8” guns, these were the last to be built of that kind up to 1936. Japanese and American cruisers had 1-2 8” guns more and just as fast.(5)

Notes

1. Pennant 78. Part of County-class Norfolk sub-class preceded by Hawkins-class succeeded by York-class. Laid down by Fairfield Shipbuilding&Engineering Co. Ltd., Govan, Scotland on 8 July 1927, launched on 12 December 1928, commissioned on 30 April/14 May 1930 and sold to be broken up on 3 January 1950.

2. Part of County-class Norfolk sub-class preceded by Hawkins-class succeeded by York-class. Laid down by Portsmouth Dockyard on 21 September 1927, launched on 22 January 1929, commissioned for trials on 24 June 1930, completed on 16 September 1930, commisssioned on 30 September 1930 and sunk in a Japanese air attack on the Indian Ocean bound for Colombo, Ceylon on 5 April 1942.

3. Pennant 90. Part of York-class heavy cruisers preceded by County-class. Ordered on 21 October 1926, laid down by Palmers Shipbuilding and Iron Company, Jarrow, England on 16 May 1927, launched on 17 July 1928, commissioned on 6 May 1930, sunk at Suda Bay, Crete, Greece by Italian explosive motor boats on 22 May 1941 and breaking up started on 3 March 1952.

4. Sir William John Berry KCB (1865 Dundee, Scotland-5 April 1937), Director of Naval Construction 1924-1930.

5. London Naval Treaty or Treaty for the Limitation and Reduction of Naval Armament signed on 22 April 1930 by the United Kingdom, USA, Japan, Italy and France with ratifications exchanged on 27 October 1930,to expire partially on 31 December 1936. Follow up of the Washington Naval Treaty signed on 6 February 1922.

Source

Brassey’s Naval and Shipping Annual 1931. London, England.