, and classes. The attempts at a follow on Minotaur class, were only marginally smaller, failing to see the Royal Navy could not justify large cruisers post war and the box dimensions of a Tiger or N2 was the limit cost containable or justifiable in industrial or financial UK post-war reality. Work on development of the Mk 3, 5.25-inch twin turret intended for the N2 class, continued on after the 1944 cancellation to 1948 at Elswick. 48rpm for AA and 24rpm for surface engagement was aimed for. In 1948 it was decided to scale down the 5.25-inch to a 5 inch 62 calibre twin. Five inch guns seemed a likely NATO standard with the US Navy developing 5-inch/54 calibre twin and single mounts. The decision later in 1948 against joint development, reflected British desire for independent naval capability and maintenance of its munitions exports. The American gun was really too advanced for much collaboration, but the US single mount was in service by 1953 and a 27rpm success, a decade later. Britain's ambitious plan for a 5-inch 62 calibre twin 60rpm mount, was beyond UK industry as was the 1951 lighter, single 5/62 calibre of 40rpm, medium range AA was beyond UK capability at the time for lightweight design, cost and machine tools for the cruiser destroyer which was finally abandoned in 1953 or even the final (Z- Zed) March 1955 conventional RN cruiser 85Z proposal of the future RN CNC, the enhanced 'Tiger/ N2 class' 8000 tons gun cruiser with 2 twin inch 5 inch, three twin 3/70, 4 STAAG Mk 2 and AD/AW 965 which the Admiralty board would have approved for the 1956 programme, but was vetoed by the Chief Naval Gunnery due to failure of past 5-inch guns development and the fact that development of new guns was too expensive and could not compete with Sea Slug missile development for resources. Notes Citations Sources Cruiser classes Abandoned military projects of the United Kingdom Cancelled ships Proposed ships of the Royal Navy Ship classes of the Royal Navy