supplied fire control system. The 1953 plan to modernize the ship with the new twin 3-inch 70 calibre guns was rejected around 1954 because Swiftsure′s beam of did not allow enough space, and the cost of a full reconstruction of Superb as a fourth Tiger, with its full new armament, was considered too expensive. The new 70 calibre twin 3-inch mounts were experimental, and it was far from clear that they would ever be reliable enough to be effective. A more limited update of the Swiftsure and Superb with new L/70 Bofors firing proximity fused shells was approved and then cancelled, because the time and cost of Swiftsure′s modernisation was proving too great, and it was clear that fitting the four L/70 mounts would require conversion from DC to AC power, which was considered too expensive on half-life ships. Options of the Type 965 radar on its new lattice mast and a data link were considered. The cost of finishing the Tiger-class cruisers (£35 million) was a major political issue, as was the new automatic guns jamming. The jamming issue was partly rectified by 1958, but only after inflicting terminal damage to the credibility of the project. The completion of Lion and Blake was in real danger of being stopped in early 1960, and automatic gun cruisers were considered obsolete in the United States and the Soviet Union. Problems with cracking that occurred in the update of Swiftsure as a result of the collision with the destroyer Diamond slowed the refit, raised costs, and made recommissioning at the same time as Belfast impossible. Re-entering service in 1960 with only Second World War-era cruiser weapons was too expensive, but there were no suitable modern weapons to fit, and more than £1 million had already been spent on the Swiftsure 'reconstruction' project by early 1959, mainly on structural modifications rather than improved weapons and electronics. In 1959-60, the Royal Navy fought hard to retain Swiftsure as a new modernization pattern of a cruiser - helicopter carrier. This design was largely implemented a decade later on its half-sisters and . This was intended to allow more space on carriers for fighters and strike aircraft. Ships Notes References External links Minotaur class at Uboat.net WWII cruisers Cruiser classes Ship classes of the Royal Navy