The Gandalf class were almost as long as the Isengard class Battleships, but much narrower, lesser guns, and armour. These were the new battlecruisers. 8" guns firing 300lb shells over 30,000 yards, 33 knots of speed, they were able to 'maintain the range' or run if they came across something they could not handle. Laid down in 1936 (Gandalf) 1937 (Saruman) 1938 (CVL's), only the first two of the four were completed as cruisers the last two being repurposed as light carriers (see Nindalf). The Gandalf was completed in August 1940 and the Saruman February 1941. Excelled as patrol cruisers with exceptional range.
These ships introduced the twin 4" turret into the Zealandian Navy, which was to pay dividends when fitted to destroyers. The turrets had a very good rate of fire of up to 16 rounds per minute. Because of the 32 pound shells, the rate of fire was kept high as crew fatigue was not as much of an issue as with the 4.5" (54lb) 5" (60lb) guns and their bigger shells. The quad 2pd were replaced with 40mm quads in 1944.
