Experience with the Fennec Fox 4" conversions showed the Panagaean Navy that small anti-aircraft cruisers would be of great value to support the new classes of aircraft carriers. The Citrus class would use the 4.5" gun system with the twin 4.5" power operated turrets with power assisted loading as well. Firing 54 pound shells at over ten rounds a minute they made very efficient destroyer killers and were very good for putting up AA barrage fire to keep the bombers high. With a decent 34 knot speed they could be used as destroyer leaders when the need arose.
A further four were to be built with completion in 1945-46, but these were cancelled in favour of more escorts. The electronics were continually upgraded. The class was lucky in that the 'Dutch' Bofors mounting was available for fitting from new. The ships had busy wars with the fleet, one would act as Captain 'D' in charge of the destroyers while the other three to five would be placed round the fleet in their AA role. So that they could act better with the destroyers they were fitted with Asdic and Hedgehog anti-submarine mortars. None of the regular depth charges were carried, just the Hedgehog, one either side of the bridge.
All six Citrus class survived World War 2, Korea, Malaya and the South China Seas. Mid-fifties and the class is 10-12 years old and looking to have another 20 years of service in front of them. The aircraft carriers would still need AA cruisers to guard them in the new Jet era. The Serval had just been sent off to the US Navy for a Surface to air missile conversion, and it was felt the smaller Citrus class ships would not be big enough to have a Terrier conversion but would be suitable to be converted to carry Sea Slug and Sea Cat missile launchers for long and short range Surface to Air Missile (SAM) defense systems. That would be fitted aft while the forward 4.5" turrets would be replaced with the twin 3"/L70 automatic mountings. Those were also a very good AA weapon that could also be used for ship to ship work. The previous anti-submarine sensors and weaponry were removed as there was not enough room to fit the enhanced sensors and weapons that were available in the late 1950's early 1960's.
