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'{{other ships|HMS Royalist}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2018}} {|{{Infobox ship begin}} {{Infobox ship image |Ship image=HMS Royalist 1943 IWM A 19015.jpg |Ship caption=''Royalist'' anchored at [[Greenock]], Scotland, in September 1943 }} {{Infobox ship career |Ship country=United Kingdom |Ship flag={{shipboxflag|UK|naval}} |Ship class=[[Dido class cruiser|''Dido''-class]] [[light cruiser]] |Ship name=HMS ''Royalist'' |Ship ordered= |Ship awarded= |Ship builder=[[Scotts Shipbuilding and Engineering Company]] ([[Greenock]], [[Scotland]]) |Ship laid down=21 March 1940 |Ship launched=30 May 1942 |Ship christened= |Ship acquired= |Ship commissioned=10 September 1943 |Ship recommissioned=1967 |Ship decommissioned=November 1967 |Ship out of service=Loaned to the [[Royal New Zealand Navy]] from 1956 to 1966 |Ship reclassified=In reserve from 1946 to 1956 |Ship identification=[[Pennant number]]: 89 |Ship fate=Scrapped, Sold to Nissho Co, Japan, in November 1967. Left Auckland under tow to Osaka on 31 December 1967 |Ship homeport= }} {{Infobox ship career |Ship country=[[New Zealand|New&nbsp;Zealand]] |Ship flag={{shipboxflag|New Zealand|naval-1941}} |Ship name=HMNZS ''Royalist'' |Ship commissioned=1956 |Ship decommissioned=1966 |Ship out of service=Returned to [[Royal Navy]] control 1967 |Ship homeport= }} {{Infobox ship characteristics |Ship displacement=*5,950 tons standard *7,200 tons full load |Ship length=*{{convert|485|ft|m|abbr=on}} pp *{{convert|512|ft|m|abbr=on}} oa |Ship beam={{convert|50.5|ft|m|abbr=on}} |Ship draught={{convert|14|ft|m|abbr=on}} |Ship power={{convert|62000|shp|MW|0|abbr=on}} |Ship propulsion=*[[Parsons Marine Steam Turbine Company|Parsons]] geared turbines *Four shafts *Four Admiralty 3-drum boilers |Ship speed={{convert|32.25|kn|km/h|0|abbr=on}} |Ship range=*{{convert|2414|km|nmi mi|abbr=on}} at {{convert|30|kn|km/h|abbr=on}} *{{convert|6824|km|nmi mi|abbr=on}} at {{convert|16|kn|km/h|abbr=on}} *{{convert|1100|t|abbr=on}} fuel oil |Ship endurance= |Ship boats= |Ship complement=530 |Ship time to activate= |Ship sensors= |Ship armament= *''Original configuration'': *8 × [[QF 5.25 inch gun|QF {{convert|5.25|inch|mm|adj=on}} dual guns]], *6 × [[Oerlikon 20 mm gun|20&nbsp;mm dual AA guns]], *3 × [[QF 2 pounder naval gun|2-pounder (40&nbsp;mm) pom-poms quad guns]], *2 × [[British 21 inch torpedo|{{convert|21|inch|mm|adj=on}} triple torpedo tubes]] |Ship armor= *''Original configuration'': *[[Belt armor|Belt]]: 3-inch, *[[Deck (ship)|Deck]]: 1 inch, *[[Magazine (artillery)|Magazine]]s: 2-inch, *[[Bulkhead (partition)|Bulkhead]]s: 1 inch. |Ship aircraft= |Ship notes= }} |} '''HMS ''Royalist''''' was an improved [[Dido-class cruiser|''Dido''-class]] [[light cruiser]] – one of five ''Bellona''-class cruisers with greatly improved remote power driven, MK 2, RP10 DP 5.25-inch [[gun turret|turret]]s giving a much more effective capability against ship, land and air targets. Light anti-aircraft armament and fire control was also improved. The Bellonas and Royalist, carried 4 rather than 5 twin 5.25 turrets, but increased electronic and radar weight, and the fact aluminium, used to save turret weight in the original Dido, was no longer usable, made it essential to achieve higher fighting effectiveness with fewer turrets. Royalist was further modified after completion with extra facilities and crew for directing carrier aircraft operations. HMS Howe used US provided 275 HADCT for its 5.25 Mk 2 from 1944,and HMS Vanguard from 1946. The tremendous success of the RN fitted T275/Mk 37(1944 USN mod), made the smaller, Bellona's priority for development post war as smaller crewed cruiser destroyers and to replace the twin 4.5 AA, and 5.25 of fleet aircraft carries and battleships post war. The loss of these 16 gun 4.5 or 5.25 platforms from the post war RN was the driving force behind the Royalist postwar update and the Tiger class completion as AA cruisers. == Development == The [[Royal Navy]] (RN) intended in late 1943 to use the ''Bellona'' class as flagships for escort-carrier and cruiser groups for the projected [[D-Day]] and [[Operation Dragoon|South of France]] invasions and for operations with the [[United States Navy|USN]] and with the RN Fleet in the [[Pacific Ocean|Pacific]]. ''Royalist'' was a class of one from the start – being fitted out, within months of commissioning, with further modifications. These modifications gave it two extra rooms for additional communications (with carriers and with [[Fleet Air Arm]] aircraft) and one of the first implementations of an AIO (Action Information Office or Organisation) – an early [[Operations Room]] for plotting and display of the tactical position and associated mechanical computers to multiply the effectiveness of its armament. Intended to enhance the vessel's role as a command ship in Northern Atlantic waters for operations against the [[German battleship Tirpitz|''Tirpitz'']] and [[German battleship Scharnhorst|''Scharnhorst'']], the extra equipment took the ship to the limit, leaving minimal comfort and sleeping provision for Petty officers and Ratings.<ref name="roberts"/> The wartime development of radar and the requirement to equip ''Royalist'' as a flagship fitted with AIO increased the crew complement from 484 to 600, adding to the discomfort. {{HMS|Scylla|98|6}}, the other AIO-fitted ''Dido'', was fitted with more compact twin 4.5 turrets. <ref>G. Mason, [https://www.naval-history.net/xGM-Chrono-06CL-HMS_Royalist.htm HMS ''Royalist''] navalhistory.net</ref>Scylla and HMS Charybidis, fitted with 4.5 twin turrets used encased ammunition (the shell and charge in the same outer case for fast loading) were considered the only, true anti-aircraft variants of the class,<ref>R. Hughes. Through the Waters. A Gunnery Officer on HMS Scylla. W Kimber. London (1956)</ref> offering more space for flagship roles, with 4 lighter twin [[QF 4.5-inch Mk I – V naval gun|4.5-inch]] turrets, unique in modern RN cruisers, using encased ammunition of equal weight to a 5.25-inch shell, the maximum for manual loading. Postwar the RN rejected encased 4.5 ammunition as too heavy and reverted to separated loading in the Battle, Type 12 and HMS Ark Royal. The USN rejected hand loading, higher calibre,70lb shells for post war 5/54 guns although France used a mod, manual version twin 5/54USN in two De Grasse, AA Cruisers in 1955-58. The other 4.5-inch-armed ''Dido'', {{HMS|Charybdis|88|6}}, was intended as the second AIO flagship, its loss in France led to the conversion of HMS ''Royalist''.<ref>Brown, 1995, pp. 112–13</ref> The ''Dido'' and the ''Improved Dido'' (''Bellona''s) developed from the small ''Arethusa''-class (1936) scout light cruisers, built primarily as a surface fighting fleet and as Mediterranean and trade route cruisers – and originally designed, 5,500-ton light cruisers – not scaled-down versions of the RN/RAN Leander/Perth cruisers<ref> D.K. Brown. History of the RN Constructors. Conway Maritime (1983) London </ref> of the 1930s with the 5.25-inch gun replacing the Leander/ Arethusa, 60-degree, twin 6-inch guns with more modern turrets with 5.25 rifles, with secondary AA capability. [[Scotts Shipbuilding and Engineering Company]] of [[Greenock]] built ''Royalist'', with the keel being laid down on 21 March 1940. She was launched on 30 May 1942 and commissioned on 10 September 1943. Her motto, ''Surtout Loyal'', translates to "Loyal above all".<ref>naval-history.net</ref> The Royal Navy intended to follow the Bellonas in 1944 with a new N2 class of 5.25 cruisers with 4 twin 12rpm with automatic turrets on a hull the size to the Tigers 55ft x 64 feet and with a desire for balanced small cruisers and speed of 28 knots through new destroyer engines, much more effective sub division , protection system and space for the crew and fuel. The excellent design was vetoed by First Sea Lord, Andrew Cunningham, who said the Mk 23 6 inch gun penetrated, 3 inch cruiser armour at 8 miles; the 5.25 at 6 m and the M class 4.7 62lb shell at 5m. However most of RN staff still favoured the 5.25 gun for AA and GFS and a modest 7000ton 3 twin Mk 3 5.25 cruiser was designed in 1945 <ref> N. Freidman. British Cruisers. Seaforth.(2010) Barnsley </ref> In 1945 the USN was building 3 of the 3rd batch of Atlanta cruisers, 1 which USN Juneau(2) was modernised in 1950-1 with new electronics and 12- 5/38 and 14 3/50 AA guns and 4 1945/6 Atlanta and Juneau class- USN Spokane type, mothballed in 1949 were considered for Fram 1 mod in 1959-61 <ref> N. Friedman. US Cruisers An Illustrated Design History. Arms & Armour. London 91985) </ref> with 2 twin 5/38 plus Asroc and Tartar and the final proposal 3 twin 5/38 and Asroc. A fouth batch of Atlantas with the new 5/54 manual used on Midway and the De Grasse was close to order by the USN in 1945. In 1947 Vickers offered to build Venezuela a new Bellona class. The 1951 Korean war saw the RN emergency war cruiser design a revised broad Bellona, armed with 4 twin 4. was considered by the UK cabinet in 1951, instead of the Tiger or new large cruiser. Four 5.25 turrets were creating stability and topweight problem on HMNZS Bellona. <ref> M. Wright. Blue Water Kiwis. The NZ Naval Story. Reed (2001) Wellington,p 150 & 180 </ref> But the introduction of 600mph Soviet Badger and Bison jet bomber in 1954, suggested a 5.25 82lb shell or the new Tiger twin 6 inch might be the only immediate counter, as the Soviet jets outclassed the design envelop of the planned RN Seaslug or earlyUS Terrier missile. ==Royal Navy career== [[File:HMS Royalist spitfire.jpg|thumb|left|A [[Supermarine Seafire]] of [[807 Naval Air Squadron]] [[Fleet Air Arm]] flying above HMS ''Royalist'' during a training flight from the Royal Naval Air Station at [[HMS Grebe|Dekhelia]], near Alexandria, Egypt in February 1945]] Following her commissioning, ''Royalist'' spent several months working up, during which time she underwent repairs for trial defects and for alterations and additions. Amongst these were modifications for service as a carrier flagship.<ref>Mason, naval-history.net</ref> In March 1944 ''Royalist'' joined the [[Home Fleet]] and served for a short period in the Arctic theatre. In this capacity she took part in [[Operation Tungsten]], the carrier raid against the [[German battleship Tirpitz|German battleship ''Tirpitz'']] whilst the ''Tirpitz'' was in [[Norway]]. ''Royalist'' was then ordered to the [[Mediterranean]] to support the landings in the south of France ([[Operation Dragoon]]) in August 1944, as part of the escort carrier squadron TF88.1. On 15 September, accompanied by {{HMS|Teazer|R23|6}}, she sank the transports ''KT4'' and ''KT26'' off Cape Spatha. She was then stationed in the [[Aegean Sea]] until late 1944, when she was ordered to the [[East Indies]]. By April 1945 she was with the [[21st Aircraft Carrier Squadron]] as Flagship, supporting the Rangoon landings ([[Operation Dracula]]), and the following month was part of a force that failed to join the [[Battle of the Malacca Strait]] where five Royal Navy destroyers intercepted the Japanese cruiser [[Japanese cruiser Haguro|Haguro]] and the destroyer [[Japanese destroyer Kamikaze (1922)|Kamikaze]] evacuating troops from [[Port Blair]] in the [[Andaman Islands]]. For the remainder of the war she covered the carrier raids against targets in the East Indies and [[Sumatra]]. Scottish author [[Alistair MacLean]] served on ''Royalist'' during the Second World War, and used his experiences as background for his acclaimed first novel ''[[HMS Ulysses (novel)|HMS Ulysses]]'' as well as for some of his subsequent works. ==Royal New Zealand Navy career== ''Royalist'' was withdrawn from the East Indies after the conclusion of hostilities, and returned home to be mothballed and dehumidified in 1946. The reconstruction of ''Royalist'' from deep preservation, of a war emergency cruiser, was superior only in the advanced interim fire control fitted with 4-7yrs, to its sister, [[HMS Diadem]] following expensive and controversial rebuild. Effectively mothballed and totally sealed to US standards in 1951 <ref> C.J. Bartlett. The long retreat. British Defence Policy 1945-1970. MacMilland (1972) London, p 74 and Brassey Defence Yearbook-1952 ' kooncotting & dehumidfying warships'(1952) p 142-56 </ref>, Diadem was better preserved and wa offered to the RNZN as an alternative in 1955. In an 18-month refit, tropicalised, with new bridge, lattice mast, US/RN ECM/ESM and ADR similar to HMS ''Euralyus'' in 1954 and new close in AA, similar to{{HMS|Cleopatra|33|6}} of 14 140rpm Mk 5/7 Bofors, as ''Babur'' for Pakistan,<ref>A. Preston, British and Commonwealth Warships in R. Gardiner (ed) All the World's Fighting Ships, Pt 1. Conway Maritime. London (1983) p. 149, and J. Goldrick(RAN). No Easy Answer. The Development of the Navies of India, Pakistan and Bengal Desh. 1945-1996. Lancer (1997) Delhi, pp. 56–62</ref> and communications and ECM/ESM common to RN strike carriers. The substantial USN electronic warfare fit, similar to the fit on HMAS Yarra and Parammatta in 1961 and the likely reason it survived the 1971 Indo Pakistan war. As with the transfer of Royalist to the RNZN, the transfer of Diadem to Pakistan was due to persuasion by the UK Government and CNS Mountbatten. However the Suez crisis and [[Duncan Sandys]]1957 Defence review, accelerated the phase out of RN cruisers, downgraded HMS ''Vanguard'' to a reserve HQ ship displacing, HMS ''Cleopatra'' and HMS ''Dido'', by October 1956,<ref> M. Wright. The Last Battleship. Intruder. Wellington (2018 </ref> and the last RN Bellonas's and Dido's were for disposal in 1957. Their scrapping was debated, in the post Sandy's HL/HC estimates debates. The ''Royalist'' and ''Diadem'' were complex warships, even as built in 1944, like modern 'hot' warships, which after refit and rewiring in 1956 could never really be turned off, for more updating, and had to be kept running with 200 men aboard even in short periods in reserve and refit, and therefore, difficult for small navies, the RNZN and RPN. In 3/1953 ''Royalist''had started a 3 year major reconstruction <ref> R. J. McDougal. NZ Naval Vessels.GP Books (1989) p 32 </ref> The "facelift' (new superstructure and electronics, but old engines) of ''Royalist'' was announced, to start, a large Dido/Bellona, update programme, briefly envisaged in a , December 1951, Korean War emergency estimates: too also involved updating HMNZS Bellona and HMNZ Black Prince {{HMS|Phoebe|43|6}}, {{HMS|Sirius|82|6}}, and comprehensive reconstructions with new engines and more comprehensive anti-nuclear washdown and insulation of HMS ''Diadem'' (in June 1955), and finally, HMS ''Cleopatra'' (in November 1955).<ref>Friedman, 2010, p. 284</ref> However the new PM, Churchill, favored the RAF and the 1952 Navy estimates was reduced.<ref>A. Seldon. Churchill's Indian Summer. The Conservative Government 1951-55. Hodder & Stoughton,(1981) London, pp314-20</ref> HMS ''Phoebe'', deteriorated when Malta's RN dock proved too short to fit new drive shafts after colliding with HMS ''Gambia'' in October 1950.<ref>A. Preston in All the World's Fighting Ships. Pt 1. Conway (1983), p 149 and W. Arkile & J. Handler. 'Ship Collisions 1945-1988'. Neptune Paper No 3. Greenpeace (1989) NY, p. 18</ref> HMS ''Cleopatra'' received an austerity refit with 3 twin and 8 single RN Bofors in place of 3 USN Quad Bofors. Cleopatra can be seen in the 1953 film ''[[Sailor of the King]]'', which stars ''Cleopatra'', and like HMS ''Euralyus'' had a compact ADR rather than AIO<ref>Raven & Roberts, p. 294/</ref> fitted in 1945 and gave useful post-war in the Mediterranean and South Atlantic. A radical defence review in June 1953, involved draconian naval cuts, but Royalists modernisation, continued under a revised defence white paper in Feb 1954, which restored the RN programme and plans, to complete the Hermes and Tiger's, but rejected starting furthur Dido/ Bellona conversions as pure gunships, they lacked the 'dual war and peace, cold war capabilities' required for the RN, they offered little as public facilities or gin palaces <ref> A. Seldon. Churchill's Indian Summer. The Conservative Government 1951-55, p315 & .T.Benbow.The RN & Sea Power British Strategy 1945-55. Inst Historical Research. University of London (2018) </ref> And Royalist was then suspended and reviewed in the Feb 1955 UK Defence White Paper which decided on a scaled down cruiser programme of extended refit for colonial service rather than [[NATO]], in line with reliance on strategic deterrence, the last Battleship was for reserve, and the new USN fire control ordered, from the USN with UK Treasury financing in $US currency for the Vanguard 8/5.25, new US T275/Mk 37M and 8 Mk 62 channels (which the USN used for US cruisers 3/50 AA guns), which could have been fitted to HMS ''Diadem'' and HMS ''Cleopatra'', intended to start modernisation in 1955 <ref> N.Friedman. British Cruisers WW2 & After, p 210 </ref> but instead, was fitted in extended refit for colonial duties on HMS Bermuda and HMS Gambia <ref> E. Grove. A Short History of the RN. Palgrave. Basingstoke (2005) p 225-9 </ref>. When the NZ Government agreed to buy ''Royalist'', in March 1955, it is unclear, if stopped,the refit was substantially complete and useful to mothball. NZ Prime Minister Sid Holland decided to accept to purchase a reconditioned 'Royalist; cruiser for 4 million pounds in 3/1955 after a 7 week visit to the US and UK where he met VP Richard Nixon, John Foster Dulles and UK PM Churchill who stressed the new strategic reality of hydrogen bombs, the threat from China and the fact he Russian Army would be unstoppable in Europe unless thermonuclear weapons were used. Holland told the NZ Parliament than he was mainly influenced by the advice of UK Minister of Defence Harold MacMillan,<ref> NZPD 24/3/1955. Hansard, p 21 </ref> who stressed the need to refocus NZ defence on the Pacific and shorter lines of communication to the SE Asian <ref> Holland. NZPD 24/3/1955, p12-21 </ref> rather than Middle East theatre. British First Sea Lord and Admiralty Minister stressed the immediate availability of 'Royalist' and that while an order 2/3 anti submarine frigates would probably proceed, if they proved suitable <ref> T.A McDonald, NZ Minister of Defence. NZPD. 27-4-1955, p 575 & 579 </ref>, the type was untested and unproven, and the RN did not view either the anti submarine or anti aircraft frigates being produced in 1955, suitable for NZ and it was desirable to wait for new types of frigates, suitable for NZ conditions with more gunpower and a/s capability, T12M or T81 or T42(1955) with 3 single 4/62<ref> T.A.McDonald. NZ MOD. NZPD 27/4/55. Hansard, p575 & 579 </ref> and the fact the Churchill government, distinct from the RN, no longer believed convoy escort possible and did not prioritise it.<ref> A. Seldon. Churchills Indian Summer </ref> The cost of ''Royalist''{{'}}s reconstruction reached £4.5 million.<ref>C. Pugsley. Confrontation. OUP p. 46</ref> The cost of two new 2500-ton frigates. A minority of RNZN opinion, including Cpt Phipps, saw it as a policy reversal stopping the RNZN maintaining a 6 frigate fleet, good training conditions and commonality with the RN. The ''Royalist'', with massive RN/USN assistance, however returned 9.5 years, almost continuous service, fortuateously,the Royal Navy, after Suez in 1956, with an "uncertain, role and future,", transferred the bulk of the fleet to the Indian and Pacific oceans, from 1957 to 1967 where prior to 1955 there was only a token presence, a couple of cruisers and destroyers. Therefore ''Royalist'' could be deployed, effectively in 1957, with the RN carrier fleet. A complex specialised, gunship, with a incomprehensible role, demanding RN officers, zero provision for non-officer comfort and separating 2/5th of the seagoing men of a small Navy from family, for 12–15 months deployment. The ship was handed over to the [[Royal New Zealand Navy]] (RNZN) on 9 July 1956. When Captain [[Peter Phipps]] went to take command of ''Royalist'' in 1955, New Zealand diplomat [[Frank Corner]] showed his own view, when he noted that Phipps agreed that the ship was a [[white elephant]], unsuitable for use in the Pacific. The RNZN had, however, operated the ''Bellona'' and ''Black Prince'' since 1946, of the same ''Dido'' class when they transferred from the British Pacific fleet, where they provided AW/AD for the RNs aircraft carriers, as part of NZ Defence contribution in 1946–54.<ref>Pugsley (2003), p. 422, note 41</ref> Phipps claimed the cruiser's range was limited and it could not even reach [[Panama]] without refueling. However, Captain Phipps also stated when the cruiser reached Auckland, that it was updated, as a most modern warship, with the capability to take "three targets simultaneously, and shoot down air targets with reasonable frequency often on the first salvo"<ref>NZ Weekly News, 26 December 1956,' Royalist home for Christmas'. Wilson & Hooton. Auckland (1956), p. 31</ref> while the [[Whitby-class frigate|Type 12 frigate]]s approved by Phipps had less endurance, it would have been more logical to order longer-range diesel versions of the Type 12, i.e. the [[Leopard-class frigate|Type 41]] or Type 61, with a 340&nbsp;ft, hull and two Mk 6 4.5 turrets, the RN Type 12 Whitby had only one turret. The RN diesel electric T41/61 original radar and fire control fit was similar to Royalist and HMNZS Otago <ref>G.M.Stephen. British Warship Design since 1906. Ian Allen. London (1985) p 76-84 & D. Brown & G. Moore. 'Rebuilding the Royal Navy since 1945'. Seaforth (2013) p74</ref> except the frigates had AC electrics and radar variants. The British diesel electric frigates (T41/61) were far ahead of their time <ref>Interview with RNZN Officers (Chatham House) Otago Foreign Policy School, Dunedin NZ 1985</ref> and successful in the service of sub continent navies after being withdrawn by the RN, as the complex, Daring Destroyers, redesigned by the RAN and Vospers worked better post 1970. The diesel variant of the Type 12, the T11 A/S frigate (never designed or built) was ideal for the RNZN in the view of Cold War RNZN Cold War Captains and XOs.<ref>R. Miles. T Herald articles, frigate force, HMS Canterbury, Wellington 7/1983-2/1986- source, interviews RNZN officers, Cmdr I. Bradley and R. Martin</ref> The improved Type 12 {{sclass-|Leander|frigate}}s ordered by the RNZN essentially were also essentially picket ships for RN aircraft carriers.<ref>Lt Cmdr Dick Ryan. Radio NZ interview 5.45pm 10/1981 re-purchase RNZN of HMS ''Bachantee''</ref> The New Zealand Navy Board, of which three members were RN officers, unsurprisingly, argued the RN view that the RNZN needed a cruiser in the South Pacific and to support the RAN/RN. The cruiser was still a RN cruiser on loan rather than New Zealand's; this reflected the fact the UK did not regard it as an independent force cf the RAN and RCN. Phipps demanded some improvements,<ref>RY257/182 9 April 1956</ref> while in command of {{HMS|Bellona|63|6}} as an accommodation ship, and refused to accept the cruiser until three weeks later than intended by the RN Dockyard until alterations were made to the habitability of the cruiser. These notably included more showers, and some rectification of ventilation problems. Time was not available to install the pre-wetting, [[CBRN defense|ABC]] spraydown equipment, specifically requested by the RNZN in 1955.<ref>Royalist Proceeding 1956–65. NZ National Archives. Wellington. NZ</ref> The ''Royalist'' needed to immediately work up for possible action in the Mediterranean. The dockyard noted that installing spraydown to wash nuclear fallout was possible, providing a wall-size copy of the plan of the pre-wetting system under installation in {{HMS|Sheffield|C24|6}}, and suggested the New Zealand dockyard could do the job. After modernisation, in 1957, ''Sheffield'' operated for only 15 months with the fleet, maintained as a static HQ ship capable of GFS, it had space, comfort, and elaborate staterooms. ''Royalist'' like the other Dido cruisers had a margin, allowing only the 47 officers, a standard cabin. ''Royalist'' offered speed and extra communications systems and an AIO (Action Information Office) fitted late 1943. The ''Dido'' cruiser, HMS ''Scylla'', was also fitted with AIO as Admiral Vian, RN D-Day command ship, severely damaged, 18 days after D day, it never recommissioned, scheduled for post war for reconstruction, with two twin Mk 6 Twin 3/ 70 mounts and 992 radar, defence cuts, in 1947 saw it scrapped in 1950<ref>N. Friedman. British Cruisers. WW2 & After (2012) & British Destroyers and Frigates (2006) pp. 163–67</ref> AIO fitted cruisers usually late Colony and Minotaurs<ref name=roberts>Raven & Roberts, 1980, pp. 294, 324</ref> doubled the effectiveness of armament in RN postwar assessment,<ref>Raven & Lenton, 1973 {{page needed|date=May 2018}}</ref> but less space for senior ratings and petty office, than RNZN's earlier ''Dido'' cruisers. The concern of New Zealand Naval servicemen and Phipps was on living conditions, recruitment, and an affordable schedule of new frigates. New Zealand [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (New Zealand)|Department of External Affairs]] viewed the British Treasury as simply getting rid of an obsolescent cruiser and getting New Zealand to pay for the refit and other RN warships ''"Then Whitehall thought of New Zealand!"''<ref>McGibbon, 1999, p. 186</ref><ref>Templeton, 1994, p. 124</ref> However, as with ''Bellona'' and ''Black Prince'' in 1946, transferring ''Royalist'' was a logical supplement to Australian defence by the backdoor.By 1955 the RAN had only light 4.5-inch gun Battle and Daring destroyers (building) and the light anti-submarine carriers, HMAS ''Melbourne'' and Sydney, with obsolete Sea Venom fighters just for Melbourne, the ''Royalist'' provided the only escort for ''Melbourne'' and ''Sydney'' and its surface 82&nbsp;lb shells some deterrence to ''Sverdlov'' or raiders than light RAN 4.5 battle guns and HMS ''Newfoundland'' (1950–52) and HMS ''Tiger'' were, with the ''Royalist'', the only effective cruiser reconstructions. Royalist, alone had all, turrets manned. Centreline 5.25 DP guns good in AA and GFS role with modern two-channel fire control and in the later 1950s the best British cruisers for radar processing and communications with the RN/ RAN Fleet air arm <ref>Raven & Roberts. British Cruisers of World War Two. Arms & Armour (1980)pp. 364–365</ref> with Australian PM Robert Menzies, dubious that RN policy in the age of nuclear deterrence, was simply, "minor fleet to the Far East in peacetime only", and no real counter to piecemeal communist erosion in SE Asia.<ref>K. Hack. Defence and Decolonisation in SE Asia, Curzon Press.(2001) Surrey, p 148; C. J Bartlett. The Long Retreat, A Short History of British Defence Policy 1945-1970 : Def 5/52, COS (54)136. The Redeployment of the Far East Fleet in War 24/4/1954</ref> The Radical UK Defence Review released 10 July1953 in the wake of the new hydrogen bomb which lessened the likelihood of a lengthy broken backed war, cut the cruiser modernisation programme, and the enormous cost and difficulty of both medium-range missile and AA gun development for both the UK and US meant Britain had decided to concentrate exclusively on Seaslug missiles and abandon new AA gun development and redevelopment of the 5.25-inch and new 5-inch guns in 1955.<ref>G. Moore. Postwar Cruiser Design for the RN 1946-1956 in Warship 2006. Conway Maritime (London) 2006, pp. 51–55</ref> [[Louis Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma|First Lord Mountbatten]] disagreed, publicly defending ''Royalist'' as the most modern British cruiser in Auckland when it arrived in 1956<ref>RNZ. Yesterdays. Sat Evening. NZ Sound Archives</ref> and regarded Phipps as inexperienced and unsuitable.<ref>McGibbon, 1999 {{page needed|date=February 2016}}</ref> Mountbatten viewed New Zealand's Cabinet and officials as out of touch with the [[Cold War]] need to maintain ready, broad-based naval and defense capabilities and frequently visited New Zealand to make appeals.<ref>Mountbatten, 1979 {{page needed|date=May 2018}}</ref> ''Royalist'' had identical fire control and radars fitted to frigates being commissioned in 1956–58, in doubled up form, in a cruiser-size hull with room for processing electronic data and communications and large enough for speed and seakeeping in the Pacific and considerable surface and anti-air defense. In some ways it was faster and more powerful in the air and surface role than HMAS ''Melbourne'', was slow, underpowered, primarily an anti submarine carrier, its Sea Venom fighters were used to develop Sea Vixen radar and had little speed or weapon capacity. Melbourne like most WW2 RN legacy hulls completed later than 1954, eg, HMCS ''Bonaventure'', HMS ''Ark Royal'' and HMS ''Lion'' had deteriorated too much for sustained fast operation. HMS ''Royalist''{{'}}s close-in air defense of 40&nbsp;mm STAAG 2 CIWS were initially sharper than other RN warships, and used standard RN 40&nbsp;mm ammunition, but after a few years were a complicated, maintenance nightmare.<ref>G. M. Stephens. British Warship Design. Ian Allen. London (1986) p. 84</ref> withdrawn from other British warships by 1961. The 3 STAAG gun systems with automatic each weighed 17 tons each,<ref>P. Hodges & N. Freidman. British Destroyer Weapons Conway Maritime. London (1979) pp. 97–8.</ref>. Britain could not afford escorts larger than destroyers in addition to its carrier and frigate force but the 5.25-inch DP guns, fitted to ''Vanguard'', ''Diadem'' and the Gibraltar base as well as ''Royalist'', were accurate unlike the old, twin 4-inch on all other 1950s RN cruisers. ''Royalist'' modernization for AA/AW and particularly AD support of RN carrier fighters and strike aircraft was ideal for [[Operation Musketeer (1956)|Musketeer]] and likely future operations of the RN carriers focused on the Indian Ocean and [[Singapore]]. The looming Suez crisis forced the RN to reactivate three unmodernised reserve cruisers – poor ships compared with ''Royalist'' – HMS ''Glasgow'', HMS ''Jamaica'' and HMS ''Superb'' in late 1955. The Type 12 frigates that Phipps wanted were ordered for the RNZN early in 1957, but proved more short-ranged, and with a single manual 4.5-inch twin-gun turret and Limbo mortar were of little value against jet fighter bombers or Soviet nuclear or double-hulled Foxtrot or Juliet submarines, intended for distant patrol. ''Royalist'' could escort convoys across the whole distance at a speed of {{convert|19|kn}}, compared with the Type 12's ability to make the long leg from [[Suva]] to [[Honolulu]] at 10/15. It was arguably the traditional cruiser role in trade defense against Russian cruisers and raiders was still relevant,<ref>{{Cite journal|first=Alex|last=Clarke|title=Sverdlov Class Cruisers and the Royal Navy Response|journal=GlobalMaritimeHistory.com|date=12 May 2014|url=https://globalmaritimehistory.com/sverdlov_class_rn_response/|accessdate=3 November 2015}}</ref> and would be the Royal Navy's first priority, along with providing effective air warning and aircraft direction for the RAN aircraft carriers,<ref>Pugsley, 2003, pp. 46, 422 (note 41)</ref> rather than defending against the questionable submarine threat. [[File:View from the bridge of HMNZS Royalist at Devonport Naval Base, 1956.jpg|thumb|left|HMNZS ''Royalist'' at the [[Devonport Naval Base]], 1956]] After refitting, ''Royalist'' was re-equipped with new equipment for her role as an AA and AD escort ship for carriers, retaining 5.25-inch, as more powerful high level AA and surface weapons rather than the usual 4-inch (or 4.5-inch) guns. However RN and British Defence documents released under the 30-year rule, show the refit was to prepare it for all-out hot wars and high-level gun engagement of shadowers,<ref>E. Grove. RN since 1815. MacMillan(2006) London, p. 225.</ref> Other than for ''Royalist'' and ''Diadem'', this modernisation was cancelled in 1953, on cost, twice that of a two-year Colony-class extended refit <ref>Grove. 2006, p. 225</ref> and a Radical Defence review and RAF assessments that the ''Sverdlov'' threat and capability was exaggerated, as was the Russian air threat and likely bomber numbers in the 1955–58 period, the RAF est 300 Badger jet bombers in 1956, the actual number was 500. The delay in the cruiser programme, meant most of the cruisers were now, 12 + age and the cost of structural modernisation doubled and reduced the programme to exteded refits for Crown Colony-class cruisers for colonial visits and shore bombardment. Go ahead for Royalists update and a ten year life extension of the Colony cruiser Ceylon was approved in.1953<ref>E. Grove.2006, p. 225</ref> HMS ''Royalist was planned to run with HMS ''Vanguard'' in the Mediterranean. Royalist favoured as a fast, 33k deepwater cruiser, and a good steamer, given the lack of precision in British yards, tools and workers, some ships, of a class, were always better. The Royalist, east of Suez, the ship and four turrets fully manned, thou was a cramped, hard driven proposition compared with a Colony and Town cruisers, which usually only had one 6 inch turret manned and muniitoned. In transferring ''Royalist'' to New Zealand, the Royal Navy assumed the RNZN as an extension of the RN and the junior New Zealand service and government following British command. Around 25% of the officers on ''Royalist'' were RN officers on loan or exchange, as were many of the specialist ratings. The RNZN officers on the cruiser were usually of junior experience and had lengthy training with the RN in the UK. Even on the cruiser's final deployment in 1965 on Confrontation patrols in southeast Asia, many RN and RAN officers occupied higher-ranking officer positions on board.<ref>Pugsley, 2003, p. 38</ref> After working up in UK waters, ''Royalist'' was operational with the British fleet in the Mediterranean as the fleet awaited the possibility of action against Egyptian air force during the [[Suez crisis]]. ''Royalist'' was intended to be mainly a radar picket and aircraft direction ship for the RAF [[English Electric Canberra|Canberra]] and RN carrier-based [[Hawker Sea Hawk|Seahawk]] and [[de Havilland Sea Venom|Sea Venom]] aircraft. ''Royalist'' had the standard RN long-range air warning Type 960 radar carried by other British cruisers and carriers in the area, but ''Royalist'' was somewhat better equipped for aircraft direction than its other counterparts in the area. After hostilities with Egypt commenced, the resulting international outrage caused Prime Minister [[Sidney Holland]] to reverse his support for the British by calling for Captain Peter Phipps to withdraw from operations against Egypt. At that point the only other immediately available replacement, cruiser was, HMS ''Jamaica'', a surface fighting unit without modern AA systems or Royalist's, equipment to process air-warning radar data and 'multiple communication channels' with fleet air arm aircraft. HMNZS ''Royalist'' continued for an indeterminate time as the primary coastal AD ship for the RN/RAF, for possibly 24hrs, till [[HMS Ceylon|HMS ''Ceylon'']] transferred from GFS duty, off Port Said and the risk from Egypt's jet Meteors, Migs and Badger bombers was suppressed. After about a day, HMNZS ''Royalist'' also withdrew from a scheduled bombardment mission in support of a RN destroyer squadron, moved further offshore, away from the main body of the RN fleet (changing identity to the undefined, RNZN cruiser ''Black Swan'' according to some British published accounts) continuing to assist the RN fleet, in its primary passive soft AW/AD/C3 role.<ref name=kyle>Kyle, 1991, pp. 394–395</ref> Holland officially ordered a withdrawal from operations, but had allowed the cruiser to stay with the Operation Musketeer fleet, as, "there was insufficient time for a decision not to withdraw", an apparent non-decision.<ref name=kyle/> Much of the Soviet-supplied [[Tupolev Tu-16]] and MiGs of the [[Egyptian Air Force]] remained a threat to the RN fleet, making the presence of ''Royalist'' crucial to fleet defence.<ref>Templeton, 1994, pp. 138–139; & phone interviews, mid 1990s, NZ with Royalist Radar crews (56–65)</ref> The reality of the pro Musketter, sentiments of the intensively worked up RNZN/RN crew (told against other options) in which most of the key officer and senior ratting positions were other than Phipps were, RN officers and many of the RNZN officers also essentially, professional RN career officers on the return voyage to New Zealand via South Africa Captain Phipps told the crew they deserved the recognition given to RN personnel for their involvement in the incident.<ref name="Pugsley, 2003">Pugsley, 2003</ref> In the 2000s the New Zealand Labour Government and the RNZN awarded these personnel battle honours for war service in the Mediterranean. The cruiser's log for the crucial days of the Suez War was destroyed at the time, meaning the full account of her Suez service will never be known. In early 1957, ''Royalist'' was involved in exercises with the Australian aircraft carrier [[HMAS Melbourne (R21)|HMAS ''Melbourne'']].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.navy.gov.au/hmas-melbourne-ii|title=HMAS ''Melbourne'' (II)|access-date=15 September 2008|publisher=Sea Power Centre|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131212202838/http://www.navy.gov.au/hmas-melbourne-ii|archive-date=12 December 2013|df=}}</ref> The cruiser made two shore bombardment missions in 1957–1958 during the [[Malayan Emergency]] against suspected terrorist areas in SE Johore, firing about 240 5.25 rounds.<ref>Pugsley. 2003, p. 50</ref> In AA exercises with the British [[Eastern Fleet|Far East Fleet]] in 1956–57, ''Royalist'' outperformed the RN Town-class cruisers, shooting down five jet [[Gloster Meteor|Meteor]] unmanned targets and many towed targets immediately on opening fire.<ref>Pugsley, 2003, p. 49</ref> In 1962, the still joint-crewed RNZN/RAN/RN ''Royalist'' suffered serious damage proceeding at high speed in rough sea conditions through the Tasman to get to a six test series between the [[Wallabies (rugby union)|Wallabies]] and [[All Blacks]] at [[Eden Park]].{{citation needed|date=September 2013}} The cruiser operated with the British Far East Fleet, in three tours of duty in 1963, 1964 & 1965, during the [[Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation|Indonesian Confrontation]] the crews being belatedly awarded [[Naval General Service Medal (1915)|General Service Medal]]s for the 1963–64 tours and Operational Service Medals for active service in combat zones in 1956, 1957–1958 and 1965, finally recognised by the New Zealand government in 2000. From mid-1963, reports by the captain of ''Royalist'' note that one of the two Mk 6/275 HALADCTs are often unserviceable, as is often one or two STAAGs (its is inexplicable in 1960–61 why the STAAGs were not replaced with standard RN Mk 5 twin Bofors, simple, effective short-range AA system which weighed 6.5 tons compared with the 17-ton STAAG.<ref>P. Hodges & N. Freidman. Destroyer Weapons of WW2. Conway Maritime. London (1979)pp. 96–102</ref> Australia's ''Daring''-class destroyers carried a simple version of the MK 5 to the end RAN career and the AC version of ''Royalist''{{'}}s single 40&nbsp;mm guns on the bridge flank returned to the UK with Blackpool in 1971, were more useful than Seacat in the Falklands War) were, while the ship's hull and lower structure is marginal, requiring constant work and frequent painting, requiring an extra Asian workforce due to the construction of the cruiser out of "low quality wartime steel", and the ship's below-[[Deck (ship)|deck]] humidity and constant temperature at a minimum of {{convert|85|F|C|0}}. The ship's modernisation provided only for a lifespan of six years, so these conditions were expected. Effective modernisation of the ship after acquisition from the Royal Navy only amounted to several ECM/ESM updates. By May 1964 the Indonesian Confrontation had escalated with Indonesian forces conducting cross-border raids in Kalmintan and landings in Borneo. The British Minister of Defence Peter Thornycroft and CDS Mountbatten requested the RN use in carriers and major units to conduct provocative passages,<ref>D. Easter. ''Britain and the Confrontation with Indonesia, 1960-66''. Taurus.NY. London (2012)</ref> to encourage revolt against Sukarno and his Generals. After rest and recreation in Singapore the Captain's briefing from the Commander of RN Far East Strategic Forces, the ''Royalist'' took on 580 tons of fuel oil on 14 July 1964 and the following morning from 8.15 to 11.15 took ammunition on from lighters<ref>Log HMNZS Royalist 14/07/1964. NZ Nat Archives. Wellington</ref> alongside. It left Singapore in the afternoon ''Royalist'', returning to Auckland from Singapore via the Cairns races in Queensland, transited the Carmat Straits on 15 July, Sapud on 16 July, at ABC state Yankee, at 2130 raised to condition X Ray at 2230 (10,30pm)<ref>Log HMNZS Royalist 16/7/1964</ref> as it was in the Java Sea between Jakarta and SW Kalimatan and then ran along the coast of Java thru the night to arrive off Bail at sunrise about 6.00am and thru the Lombok Strait on 17 July 1964<ref>NCB 083-PL 70R 18762 RLA 8-7-64</ref> on what was described as 'routine passage' in the highly confidential flash to Canberra. The two transits of the straights made the task group led by HMS ''Victorious'', a month apart that followed were both also described as 'routine passage only the second was even notified with a note from the British embassy, RN attache to the Indonesian Navy, which was a concession the track would be through Lombok not Djakarta and the major Indonesian military bases. During the transit of the straights, the guns were fully manned with the crews closed up; if the cruiser had been buzzed by Indonesia MiGs or patrol craft, the captain was instructed to take "precautionary measures" and not train or elevate the guns or test fire them again during the deployment, a "diplomatic artifact" given a scenario of undetectable possible threat of surprise long-range air-launched Kangaroo cruise missile attack from Indonesia Badger bombers<ref>Log of HMS Royalist. 1964. NZ National Archives and ret Rear Admiral Hunter (notes) re 1964 Potential OP service Award NZMDF 2006 report</ref> and full ABC protection at X Ray state 9<ref>Log of HMS Royalist 1964</ref> as was the task force led by {{HMS|Victorious|R38|6}} on 19 September 1964, two C Destroyers, [[guided missile destroyer]] {{HMS|Hampshire|D06|6}}, (which replaced {{HMS|Lion|C34|6}}) and a/s frigates {{HMS|Dido|F104|6}} and {{HMS|Berwick|F115|6}}. The ''Victorious'' assertion of the right of innocent passage by a carrier which mounted [[Blackburn Buccaneer]] and [[de Havilland Sea Vixen]] aircraft painted in grey anti flash, and believed to be nuclear-armed was viewed as one of the most dangerous moments of the Cold War,<ref>Roberts, 2009, p. 51</ref> with mass panic in Java, but proved a brave and effective move, in asserting rights for naval passage and Malaysian independence. There was considerable doubt among RNZN staff whether ''Royalist'', which had not had a major refit since 1956, could deploy again in 1965. It managed to deploy again after a seven-week, 24/7 refit in the Devonport dockyard and work up in the [[Hauraki Gulf]], where it managed {{convert|27|kn}} at half power. The cruiser was still visually impressive, and provided the crucial appearance of capability and ability to operate. It was judged the fire control systems needed either a year's refit or $140,000 of new parts,<ref>Reports and Returns. Mod Pre & Post refit trials ;(1) 1955–64 & (2) 1965 Rc 72/1/10,</ref> and one of two STAAG CIWS mounts was refitted with the rather worn spare, after rust removal, the two UA3 ESM systems were playing up.<ref>Reports & Returns, Mod & Refit.1965. 72/1/10,</ref> It was hoped the worn steam turbines could last 15 months to allow a final 1966 visit to all the New Zealand ports if "hope prevailed over fear". Against most RNZN staff advice it was decided not to inform the Commander of the British Far East Fleet, of the situation as "Commander Far East has enough trouble fitting ''Royalist'' in his operational plans now with limitations on his main capability in the Confrontation War."<ref>Reports & Returns. Mod & Refit. 1955-64 & 65. 72/1/10</ref> The Royal Navy was desperately overstretched during the confrontation, and keeping one carrier fully operational in the theatre at all times was difficult.<ref>Twiss & Bailey, 1996</ref> Deterring Jakarta with the threat of potential aerial nuclear strike meant keeping only one of the high-maintenance ''Tiger''-class cruisers, intended for the role, with the Far East Fleet; HMS ''Lion'' was withdrawn after a boiler explosion on anti-infiltration patrol, and {{HMS|Blake|C99|6}} was put into reserve from December 1963 due to crew shortages in the RN. HMS ''Royalist'' was still perceived as useful and needed in Plymouth and Singapore, even if it could not run at the 25 knots plus speed a carrier group needed to launch Vixens and Scimitar as an escort for amphibious carriers like HMS ''Albion'' and HMS ''Bulwark'' and it was decided ''Royalist'' would proceed to [[Pearl Harbor]] for a second workup, rather than a longer refit in the Devonport dockyard, before deploying to [[Hong Kong]] and Singapore in support of RN forces. ''Royalist'' conducted anti-infiltration patrols, boarding boats, deployed shore patrols, participated in Exercise Guardrail as the simulated "enemy Sverdlov cruiser"<ref>C. Pugsley. Emergency to Confrontation. OUP. Melbourne, p. 245</ref> and provided extra men, potential heavy GFS and AD support for {{HMS|Bulwark|R08|6}}{{'}}s on a vulnerable deployment, transferring a new helicopter squadron to Borneo.<ref>HMNZS Royalist 1965 Log & C. Pugsley. Emergency to Confrontation. notes 121 &122. HMS Royalist Proceedings 1965. RNZN Museum, Devonport, Auckland</ref> For the 1965 Far East tour, the crew were awarded [[New Zealand Operational Service Medal|Operational Service Medal]]s (OPSM). This reflects the general build up in tension with Indonesia, the probable use of weapons by landing parties, the higher grade of main munition preparation and the political support for the mission, but the earlier deployments of ''Royalist'' when its system were more effective were much more important in the tactical and even strategic sense. The 1965 deployment was somewhat marred by the refusal of the New Zealand Ministry of External Affairs or the New Zealand and British ambassadors to allow ''Royalist'' to dock with Royal Navy warships in the Tokyo or Yokohama area.<ref>Reports & Returns. HMNZS Royalist. R 72/1/10 1965. NZ National Archives, Wgtn, NZ(Open access))</ref> According to the Royal Navy attache in Tokyo, the RNZN sailors "could not afford the one pound per minute price in the Ginza nightclubs and bars."<ref>Reports & Return. HMNZS Royalist. 1965. NZ National Archives. R 72/1/10 Wgtn, NZ.</ref> The captain of ''Royalist'', J.P. Vallant replied to the Deputy Secretary of Defence in Wellington, "find it quaint that the flagship of the New Zealand navy is persona non grata in the Tokyo Bay area."<ref>Cpt. J. P. Vallant. HMNZS Royalist. Reports & Returns. 1965. 72/1/10.</ref> ''Royalist'' was confined to the Japanese provincial ports when New Zealand diplomats persuaded the local police chiefs that their request for a curfew was unwise and it was essential to keep bars open 24 hours.<ref>Reports & Returns. HMNZS Royalist. 1965. R 72/1/10</ref> After further shore leave in [[Bangkok]], Singapore, and [[Subic Bay]], ''Royalist'' returned to New Zealand, after a valiant repair of a milking boiler and turbine en route. It was unable to make its final scheduled 1966 visit for [[Waitangi Day]] and tour of the New Zealand ports, and was effectively paid off five months early. ==Decommissioning and fate== ''Royalist'' was paid off on 4 June 1966. After eleven years in the RNZN, ''Royalist'' reverted to [[Royal Navy]] control in 1967. She was sold for scrap to the Nissho Co, Japan, in November 1967 and was towed from [[Auckland]] to [[Osaka]] on 31 December 1967. ==References== ;Citations {{Reflist|30em}} ;Bibliography {{Refbegin}} *{{cite book|first=D.K.|last=Brown|title=The Design and Construction of British Warships, 1939–1945. The official record. Major Surface Vessels|publisher=Conway Maritime Press|place=London|year=1995|isbn=9780851776736}} *{{Colledge}} *{{cite book|first=Norman|last=Friedman|title=British Cruisers. Two World Wars & After|publisher=Seaforth|place=Barnsley|year=2010|isbn=9781783464524}} *{{cite book|first=Eric|last=Grove|title=Royal Navy since 1815. A Short History|publisher=Palgrave-MacMillan|place=London|year=2006|isbn=9780333721254}} *{{cite web|first=Guðmundur|last=Helgason|year=2018|title=HMS Royalist (89)|url=http://uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/4024.html|website=uboat.net|accessdate=8 May 2018}} *{{cite book|first=Keith|last=Kyle|title=Suez|url=https://archive.org/details/suez00kyle|url-access=registration|publisher=Weidenfeld and Nicolson|place=London|year=1991|isbn=9780297812746}} *{{cite web |first=Lt Cdr Geoffrey B |last=Mason RN (Rtd) |url=http://www.naval-history.net/xGM-Chrono-06CL-Royalist.htm |title=HMS Royalist – Bellona-class AA Cruiser |publisher=naval-history.net |work=Service Histories of Royal Navy Warships in World War 2|date=2004 |editor1=Gordon Smith }} *{{cite book|title=Unofficial Channels: Letters between Alister McIntosh and Foss Shanahan, George Laking and Frank Corner 1946–1966|editor-first=Ian|editor-last=McGibbon|publisher=Victoria University Press|place=Wellington|year=1999|isbn=978-0-86473-365-8}} *{{cite book|first1=Louis|last1=Mountbatten|editor-first=Philip|editor-last=Zeigler|title=Shore to Shore. The Diaries of Earl Mountbatten of Burma 1953–1979|publisher=Collins|place=London|year=1979|isbn=9780002176064|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/fromshoretoshore0000moun}} *{{cite book|first=Christopher|last=Pugsley|title=From Emergency to Confrontation. New Zealand Armed Forces 1949–66|publisher=Oxford University Press|place=Melbourne|year=2003|isbn=9780195584530}} *{{cite book|first1=Alan|last1=Raven|first2=Henry Trevor|last2=Lenton|title=Dido cruisers|publisher=Bivocac|place=London|year=1973|isbn=9780856800030}} *{{cite book|first1=Alan|last1=Raven|first2=John Arthur|last2=Roberts|title=British Cruisers of World War 2|publisher=Arms & Armour|place=Melbourne|year=1980|isbn=9780853683049}} *{{cite book|first=John|last=Roberts|title=Safeguarding the Nation: the Story of the Royal Navy|publisher=Seaforth|place=Havertown|year=2009|isbn=9781783830305}} *{{cite web|first=Mike|last=Russell|title=HMS Royalist (C89)|url=https://www.world-war.co.uk/Bellona/royalist.php3|website=WWII cruisers|accessdate=6 May 2018}} *{{cite book|first=Malcolm|last=Templeton|authorlink=Malcolm Templeton|title=Ties of Blood and Empire: New Zealand's Involvement in Middle East Defence and the Suez Crisis 1947–57|publisher=Auckland University Press|place=Auckland NZ|year=1994|isbn=978-1-86940-097-2}} *{{cite book|first1=Frank|last1=Twiss|first2=Chris Howard|last2=Bailey|title=Social Change in the Royal Navy 1924–1970. The Life and Times of Admiral Frank Twiss|publisher=Sutton|place=Stroud|year=1996|isbn=9780750906104}} {{Refend}} ==External links== * {{Commons category-inline|HMS Royalist (ship, 1942)}} * [https://www.naval-history.net/xGM-Chrono-06CL-HMS_Royalist.htm HMS ''Royalist'' at navalhistory.net] {{Dido class cruiser}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Royalist (89)}} [[Category:Dido-class cruisers]] [[Category:Ships built on the River Clyde]] [[Category:1942 ships]] [[Category:World War II cruisers of the United Kingdom]] [[Category:Dido-class cruisers of the Royal New Zealand Navy]]'