CSS Norfolk (CA-1938)
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Last of the pre-war heavy cruiser classes the four Norfolk class ships benefitted from the cancellation of the various naval Treaties that had ruled warship building for nearly 20 years. Finally nations could build heavy cruisers that would have all the speed, power and armour necessary to undertake any task asked of them.
For the first time the Norfolk class was able to ship the twin 5.1" autoloading guns of French design. Previous classes under the treaty obligations just had no tonnage to spare to use for the big secondary 5.1" guns. These guns made a big difference to the AA armament.
To give some indication how the size of the cruiser had increased, the four Norfolks were bigger than the Puerto Rico class battlecruisers and with the powerful 8" guns fitted to the ships, they probably outclassed them as well as being bigger.
| Displacement | 18,200 tons std 22,750 tons full load |
| Length | 688 ft |
| Breadth | 71 ft |
| Draught | 27 ft |
| Machinery | 4 shaft steam turbines 125,000shp |
| Speed | 33 knots |
| Range | 8000 miles at 15 knots (3,000 nm at 28 knots) |
| Armour | 6" side, 2.5" deck, 5" turrets |
| Armament | 12 x 8" (4x3) 12 x 5.1" (6x2) 20 x 40mm (5x4) 24 x 20mm (24x1) |
| Aircraft | 3 |
| Torpedoes | nil |
| Complement | 1050 |
| Notes | CSS Norfolk |