Minotaur Class Cruiser
First conceived in 1967 as a larger and more capable carrier escort than the smaller Type 82 destroyers and far less capable County-class destroyers, the Minotaur-class cruisers would be built to complement the aforementioned types with much greater capabilities. These cruisers were to be armed with the upcoming Sea Dart-ER, an extended range Sea Dart with an added booster making it too large for use on the standard planned design, with a planned magazine size of 60 missiles. The ships would also boast Ikara and helicopter hangars making them excellent for anti-submarine warfare whenever it was asked of them. Design work would be finalized in early 1969, with the first ship laid down in 1970, commissioning in 1973. Sea Dart-ER would enter service in 1974 alongside the second Minotaur, with an additional six ships built and commissioned by 1980. They would become the premier AAW ships alongside the Type 43 destroyers in the Royal Navy, with their large magazines and Sea Dart-ER making them the most capable ships in the fleet for several years.
Right, another ship to help flesh out the Royal Navy roster a bit more, this time a Belknap-based missile cruiser with Ikara and an extended range Sea Dart. These ships have hefty magazines and a high fire rate, making them very capable AAW ships under the right circumstances. More to come soon I hope, still working on a few different things to add more variety to the Royal Navy fleet. Enjoy!
