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HMAS Hobart (CL-1934)
In my opinion this is probably the best looking light cruiser class of the WW2 type built. A blend of firepower, armour and speed that gave the ships an advantage over the earlier 6 inch cruisers they were built to replace.
These Leander class cruisers were an advance on the previous E type light cruisers and were what was built when a return to the smaller 6" cruiser was deemed neccessary after the larger and more expensive County class ships. The four ships in the class were built in pairs with the first pair being laid down in 1932 and a second pair in 1934.
The timing of these ships meant that they missed being designed for the 4.5" guns, in place of these the ships had first single 4" AA guns and these were replaced in 1937/38 with twin mountings. Light AA weaponry was increased throughout the war on those ships that survived. Hobart above has a mix of 2 pounder pom poms, 40mm Hazemeyer mounts, 40mm Bofors single mounts, 20mm twin and single mounts.
These ships differed from the UK types by having upright funnels.
| Displacement | 7,300 tons std, 9,750 tons full load |
| Length | 561 ft |
| Breadth | 56 ft |
| Draught | 20 ft |
| Machinery | 4 shaft steam turbines, 72,000shp |
| Speed | 32 knots |
| Range | 4,500 at 18 knots |
| Armour | 4" side, 2" deck 2.5" turrets |
| Armament | 8 x 6" (4x2) 8 x 4" (4x2) 8 x 2pd (2x4) 4 x 40mm Hz (4x1) 5 x 40mm (5x1) 4 x 20mm (1x2 2x1) |
| Aircraft | nil (removed 1943) |
| Torpedoes | 8 x 21" (2x4) |
| Complement | 580 |
| Notes | HMAS Hobart (1932-1936) HMAS Adelaide (1932 - 1936) HMAS Greymouth (1934 - 1937) HMAS Sydney (1934 - 1938) |