The Antianeira class were converted to Area Defence vessels during the mid 1930's. Part of that transformation was the removal of the aft pair of 9.2" twin turrets. This gave six turrets that could be fitted to new construction. In what numbers the turrets would be used in was the problem. Two ships with tree turrets each, three ships with two each, one ship with four and one with two, one ship with all six, those were the options. All six was discarded as requiring a huge vessel to mount turrets with guns that were already ancient. The other three options all had good and bad points, and it came down to what use the Navy wanted to make use of the ships for. Eventually it was decided that a Patrol/Escort Cruiser type vessel would add most to the Navy. So that was options one and two. It was felt that two turrets on a cruiser sized vessel would be capable of looking after itself against cruiser sized ships. Three vessels were ordered in 1938.
The design looked old fashioned but did not really require all the flash new mod cons that cruisers being built at the time required. High speed was not required, so diesel engines to give a maximum speed of 24 knots were fitted, which also gave the ships a long range compared to turbine engined cruisers. For the ships heavy AA defence, two of the new twin 4" turrets were fitted. Two quad 2 pounder mountings and ten single 20mm were the light AA armament. Where the regular Navy ships went through refits to replace the 2 pounder and 20mm with 40mm Bofors mountings, these three kept their light AA weapons till after the war. Once some of the oldest ships that had been upgraded to 40mm were taken out of service, the three Isocrateia class were fitted with those weapons. The aircraft and catapult where kept through to the acquisition of helicopters when a landing on platform was fitted aft of the funnel. The turrets were refurbished from their original condition, with the floor of the turret being lowered and the slot for the gun being cut higher, all to increase the range. The original specifications for the guns was 15 degrees elevation for a range of 16,000 yards. Even modern 6" were firing 25,000 yards . With the refits to the guns, elevation was raised to 28 degrees for a range of 27,000 yards. More than adequate.
The intended use of the ships was in patrolling the vast areas of the Pacific, outside the normal trade route lanes. That was where the enemies armed merchant cruisers liked to hide to refuel and revictual their ships. That was also where the aircraft carried by these ships was so important. It extended the 'eyes' of the ship tenfold. The Italians had four ships, designated RAMB 1 to 4, that operated from Masawa in Africa to Italy carrying mainly bananas and a few passengers. Two of the ships were at Masawa when Italy declared war in July 1940. The two ships were then armed with four 4.7" guns to become merchant cruisers. Once it was clear that Italian Somaliland would not be able to be relieved by the troops in Libya fighting south (beaten and surrendered to the British), to open a supply corridor, a plan to send all available shipping that could make the journey, to Japan. RAMB 1 was intercepted by HMNZS Leander and sunk. RAMB 2 made it to Japan, where it should have been interned, but the Japanese were feeling the squeeze of the sanctions being levied on it, and were quite happy to supply the RAMB 2 and send it out into the Pacific to have a career as a merchant cruiser against the Allied ships in the Pacific.
The Isocrateia was patrolling the region between Tahiti and Fiji. There were several RRR calls being made from the area to indicate that a raider was operating in the area. The trick was to locate and destroy it. The ships aircraft was being used as much as possible, and was up when an RRR call was received from close by. The aircraft went toward the position and discovered two ships alongside each other. One ship was known as the aircraft crew had 'cleared' it the day before. When the other ship was interrogated it was unable to supply the 'secret' code word and started firing its AA guns at the aircraft. The Isocrateia increased speed to maximum and headed for the 'sound of the guns'. Having the aircraft circling the enemy ship made it easy. The Isocrateia came within range but waited till it was within 20,000 yards, well within its own range but outside the Italians guns range. Twenty minutes later it was all over. The Italians had surrendered, abandoned ship and fired scuttling charges. The Isocrataiea picked up the survivors and dropped them at Fiji. The ships Commander was made Captain and her position and promotion prospects were assured. There were not many single ship actions where a ships Commander could win fame and fortune so sinking RAMB 2 was a feather in her cap.
The ships were added to the Bombardment Group from 1943 till the end of the war. Enemy shipping was contained in small, localised areas and only enemy submarines now operated in the wider battle grounds. The Isocrateia and its sisters were not armed to fight submarines so firing at patches of dirt was better than nothing. Two of the class performed this task in the Pacific, the other in European waters. None of the ships were lost during World War Two, and after a short stint on repatriation duties the ships were transferred to the Coastguard. As coastguard ships they were assigned to one of the three major ports as home base and would navigate around Mu looking for smugglers and pirates. As noted above the three ships had their aircraft that would fly off and look into the hidden bays and rivers around Mu. Nowhere to hide for the bad guys.
1960 and the three ships are re-rated Ocean Going Training ships and a full deckhouse to contain the trainees was added amidships, the roof of which would become the helicopter landing deck. Under this new heading the ships served another twenty years doing the same duties as coast guard ships while training new recruits. Between 1980 and 1982 the ships were withdrawn from service, used as accommodation ships for several years, then deleted from the Navy List and sold for scrap.
