Editing Renown-class battlecruiser (section)

===Inter-war service===
[[File:HMS Repulse at Vancouver 1924.jpg|thumb|''Repulse'' moored at [[Vancouver]] during her [[Cruise of the Special Service Squadron|1923–1924 world cruise]].]]
''Repulse'' began a major refit at [[Portsmouth]] on 17 December 1918<ref name=b02/> intended to drastically improve her armour protection. Her existing 6-inch armour belt was replaced by {{convert|9|in|adj=on|0}} armour plates made surplus by the conversion of the battleship {{ship|Chilean battleship|Almirante Cochrane||2}} (originally ordered by Chile and purchased after the war began) to the [[aircraft carrier]] {{HMS|Eagle|1918|2}}. The old armour was fitted between the main and upper decks, above the new armour belt. Additional high-tensile plating was added to the decks over the magazines. The ship's anti-torpedo bulge was deepened and reworked along the lines of that installed on the battleship {{HMS|Ramillies|07|2}}. The bulge covered her hull from the submerged torpedo room to "Y" magazine and the inner compartments of which were filled with crushing tubes. The bulges added {{convert|12|ft|8|in|m|1}} to her beam and {{convert|1|ft|4|in|m|1}} to her draught. The refit added about {{convert|4500|LT|t}} to her displacement and raised her metacentric height to {{convert|6.4|ft|m|1}} at deep load. Three 30-foot rangefinders were also added as well as eight torpedo tubes in twin mounts on the upper deck. Both flying-off platforms were removed.<ref>Raven and Roberts, pp. 55–56.</ref>

When the Grand Fleet was disbanded in April 1919 ''Renown'' was assigned to the Battlecruiser Squadron of the [[Atlantic Fleet (United Kingdom)|Atlantic Fleet]]. In June she was refitted in preparation for a [[Royal tours of Canada|tour of Canada]], [[Newfoundland and Labrador|Newfoundland]] and the United States by [[Edward VIII of the United Kingdom|Edward]], the [[Prince of Wales]], and both flying-off platforms were removed.<ref name=b97/> From January to March 1920 ''Renown'' was refitted more extensively as a "royal yacht".<ref name=b31>Burt 1993, p. 231.</ref> Her aft 4-inch mounting and both 3-inch AA guns were removed so that extra accommodation and a promenade deck could be built. A large deckhouse was built on the shelter deck between the funnels. The port side housed a [[squash court]] while the starboard side was a [[Movie theater|cinema]].<ref name="Burt 1986, pp. 297–98"/> The ship sailed in March for Australia and New Zealand with the Prince of Wales and his entourage aboard and made many stops en route. She returned to Portsmouth in October and was placed in reserve in November.<ref name=b31/>

''Renown'' was recommissioned in September 1921 for a tour of India and Japan by the Prince of Wales and sailed from Portsmouth in October. The ship arrived back in Portsmouth in June 1922 and she was placed in reserve the following month.<ref>Burt 1993, pp. 231, 234.</ref> The ship began a reconstruction that same month along the lines of her sister, although changes were made based on the experiences with ''Repulse''. ''Renown''{{'}}s main armour belt was removed and a new 9-inch belt was installed, using up the remaining plates left over from ''Almirante Cochrane'' as well as new armour, but installed about {{convert|3|ft|m|1}} higher than on ''Repulse'' to offset any increase in draught. A strake of tapered armour was fitted underneath the main belt to deflect any shell that dived beneath the water's surface; it was 9-inches thick at top and thinned to {{convert|2|in|mm}} at the bottom. The ship's deck armour was heavily reinforced adjacent to its machinery spaces and magazines. Two longitudinal bulkheads were added between the upper and main decks that ran from the base of the conning tower to the end of the boiler rooms. The bulges were reworked and based on those used in the ''Queen Elizabeth''-class battleships, although crushing tubes were only used abreast the magazines. The rear triple 4-inch gun mount was replaced. The flying-off platform on "B" turret was reinstated and a high-angle control position (HACP) was added to the fore-top. The pair of 3-inch AA guns and her two single four-inch gun mounts were removed and replaced with four [[QF 4 inch Mk V naval gun|QF four-inch Mark V]] anti-aircraft guns.<ref>Raven and Roberts, pp. 142–143.</ref> They had a maximum depression of -5° and a maximum elevation of 80°. They fired a {{convert|31|lb|kg|adj=on}} [[High explosives|high explosive]] shell at a muzzle velocity of {{convert|2387|ft/s|m/s|abbr=on}} at a rate of ten to fifteen rounds per minute. The guns had a maximum ceiling of {{convert|31000|ft|m|abbr=on}}, but an effective range of much less.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.navweaps.com/Weapons/WNBR_4-45_mk5.htm|title=Britain 4"/45 (10.2 cm) QF Mark V and Mark XV|date=25 January 2010 |access-date=7 May 2010|publisher=navweaps.com}}</ref> The reconstruction only added {{convert|3500|LT|t}} to the ship's displacement and three inches to her draught.<ref name=b10>Burt 1993, p. 210.</ref>

[[File:HMSRenown1 crop WEFretwellCollection.jpg|thumb|left|''Renown'' at [[Fremantle]] during her 1927 cruise to Australia]]
''Repulse'' was recommissioned on 1 January 1921 and joined the Battlecruiser Squadron. In November 1923, ''Hood'', accompanied by ''Repulse'' and a number of {{sclass|Danae|cruiser|2}}s of the [[1st Light Cruiser Squadron (United Kingdom)|1st Light Cruiser Squadron]], set out [[Cruise of the Special Service Squadron|on a world cruise]] from west to east via the [[Panama Canal]]. They returned home ten months later in September 1924.
<ref name=b02/> Shortly after her return the ship's pair of 3-inch AA guns and her two single four-inch gun mounts were removed and replaced with four QF four-inch Mark V AA guns.<ref name=rr43>Raven and Roberts, p. 143.</ref> The Battlecruiser Squadron visited [[Lisbon]] in February 1925 to participate in the [[Vasco da Gama]] celebrations before continuing on the Mediterranean for exercises.<ref>Burt 1993, p. 220.</ref> A squash court was added on the starboard side between the funnels for the Prince of Wales' tour of Africa and South America<ref name=rr43/> that lasted from March to October.<ref>Burt 1993, pp. 220–221.</ref> Upon her return she was refitted from November 1925 to July 1926 and had a HACP added to her fore-top.<ref name=rr43/>

''Renown'' finished her reconstruction in September 1926 and she was assigned to the Battlecruiser Squadron until the ship was detached to convey [[George VI of the United Kingdom|Prince Albert of York]] to Australia between January and July 1927. Upon her return she rejoined the Atlantic Fleet. ''Renown'' became the flagship of the BCS when ''Hood'' was refitting between 1929 and 1931. ''Hood'' reassumed the role as flagship after she was recommissioned and ''Renown'' was [[paid off]] for a refit of her own.<ref>Burt 1993, p. 234.</ref> A [[HACS|High-Angle Control System Mark I]] was fitted with a director on the roof of the fore-top that replaced the high-angle rangefinder and the conning tower platform was enlarged to accommodate a pair of Mk V octuple mountings for the [[QF 2 pounder naval gun|QF 2-pounder Mk VIII gun]]<ref name=rr50>Raven and Roberts, p. 250.</ref> The Mk V mounts could depress to −10° and elevate to a maximum of 80°. The Mark VIII 2-pounder gun fired a {{convert|40|mm|adj=on}} {{convert|.91|lb|kg|adj=on}} shell at a muzzle velocity of {{convert|1920|ft/s|m/s|abbr=on}} to a distance of {{convert|3800|yd|m}}. The gun's rate of fire was approximately 96–98 rounds per minute.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.navweaps.com/Weapons/WNBR_2pounder_m8.htm|title=Britain 2-pdr 4 cm/39 (1.575") Mark VIII|date=20 February 2008|publisher=navweaps.com|access-date=7 June 2010}}</ref> Only one mount was initially available, however, and it, along with its director, was fitted on the starboard side.<ref name=rr50/> ''Renown'' had her midships triple 4-inch mount removed to make room for an [[aircraft catapult]] that was not fitted until 1933. The port Mark V 2-pounder mount was finally fitted, albeit without its director, that same year. The ship now carried a [[Fairey III]] [[floatplane]] for reconnaissance purposes. The flying-off platform was also removed.<ref name=b10/>

====1930s reconstructions====
After ''Repulse'' completed her 1926 refit she remained in commission, aside from a brief refit in July–September 1927, with the BCS of the Atlantic Fleet until she was paid off in June 1932 prior to beginning her reconstruction in April 1933. Most of the existing layers of high-tensile steel that constituted the ship's horizontal armour were replaced by non-cemented armour plates {{convert|2.5|-|3.5|in}} in thickness and the torpedo control tower was removed from the aft superstructure.<ref>Raven and Roberts, pp. 206–207.</ref> A fixed catapult replaced the midships 4-inch triple mount and a [[hangar]] was built on each side of the rear funnel to house two of the ship's Fairey III aircraft. One additional aircraft could be carried on the deck and another on the catapult itself. Electric cranes were mounted above each hangar to handle the aircraft. The four 4-inch AA guns were moved, one pair abreast the rear funnel at the level of the hangar roof and the other pair abreast the fore funnel on the forecastle deck. Four prototype QF 4-inch Mark XV [[Dual purpose gun|dual-purpose guns]] were added in twin-gun Mark XVIII mounts abreast the mainmast. Two octuple Mark VI 2-pounder mounts were fitted on extensions of the conning-tower platform abreast the fore funnel. Above these a pair of quadruple Mark II* mountings for the [[Vickers machine gun|0.5-inch Vickers Mark III]] [[machine gun]] were added.<ref>Burt, pp. 210, 213.</ref> These mounts could depress to −10° and elevate to a maximum of 70°. The machine guns fired a {{convert|1.326|oz|adj=on}} bullet at a muzzle velocity of {{convert|2520|ft/s|m/s|abbr=on}}. This gave the gun a maximum range of about {{convert|5000|yd|m|abbr=on}}, although its effective range was only {{convert|800|yd|m|abbr=on}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.navweaps.com/Weapons/WNBR_5-62_mk3.htm|title=British 0.50"/62 (12.7 mm) Mark III – Japanese 12 mm/62 "HI" Type|date=27 January 2010|publisher=navweaps.com|access-date=8 June 2010}}</ref> ''Repulse'' received two HACS directors, one Mark II on the fore-top and a Mark I* mounted on a pedestal above the rear superstructure. The two submerged torpedo tubes were removed and the vacant spaces sub-divided and turned into store-rooms.<ref>Raven and Roberts, pp. 207, 209.</ref>

''Renown'' began her own even more thorough reconstruction in September 1936, based on that of the battleship {{HMS|Warspite|03|2}}. Her superstructure and funnels were razed to the level of the upper deck, her masts taken out and the ship's main and secondary armament was removed. A large splinter-proof tower superstructure was built, topped with a [[List of British ordnance terms#DCT|director-control tower]] for the main armament and two HACS Mark IV directors. The armoured hood formerly mounted above the conning tower was reinstalled on the rear superstructure. The ship's engines and boilers were replaced by [[Parsons Marine Steam Turbine Company|Parsons]] geared turbine sets and eight Admiralty three-drum [[boiler (steam generator)|boiler]]s. This saved some {{convert|2800|LT|t}} of weight and allowed the two forward boiler rooms to be converted to {{convert|4.5|in|adj=on}} magazines and other uses. ''Renown''{{'}}s deck protection was somewhat upgraded by adding non-cemented armour where it had not been added earlier and protecting the new 4.5-inch magazines. As in ''Repulse'' hangars were built abreast her rear funnel and a catapult was fitted between the rear funnel and the aft superstructure.<ref>Raven and Roberts, pp. 250–222, 254.</ref>

The ship's 15-inch gun turrets were modified to the Mark I (N) standard with their elevation increased to 30°. Twenty dual-purpose [[QF 4.5 inch Mk I – V naval gun|QF 4.5-inch Mark III guns]] in twin [[British ordnance terms#BD|BD Mark II]] mountings replaced all of the 4-inch guns. Six of the gun turrets, three on each side, were abreast the forward funnel while the remaining four were mounted on abreast the main mast.<ref name=rr50/> The BD Mark II mounts had elevation limits of −5° to +80°. The Mark III gun fired a {{convert|55|lb|kg|adj=on}} high explosive shell at a muzzle velocity of about {{convert|2350|ft/s|m/s|abbr=on}}. Its rate of fire was 12 rounds per minute. They had a maximum effective ceiling of {{convert|41000|ft|m|abbr=on}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.navweaps.com/Weapons/WNBR_45-45_mk1.htm|title=British 4.5"/45 (11.4 cm) QF Marks I, III and IV (Marks 2, 3, 4 and 5)|date=1 June 2009 |access-date=11 September 2010|publisher=navweaps.com}}</ref> The guns were controlled by four dual-purpose Mark IV directors, two mounted on the rear of the bridge structure and the remaining two on the aft superstructure. They fed tracking data to a HACS Mark IV analog computer for high-angle targets and an [[Admiralty Fire Control Table|Admiralty Fire Control Clock Mark VII]] for low-angle targets.<ref name=rr50/> Each gun was provided with 400 round of ammunition.<ref>Raven and Roberts, p. 258.</ref> Three octuple Mark VI 2-pounder mounts were fitted, two on a platform between the funnels and the third at the rear of the aft superstructure. Each was provided with a Mark III* director. Four quadruple Vickers .50-calibre Mark III mounts were also added, two each on the forward and rear superstructures. The submerged torpedo tubes were removed and eight above-water torpedo tubes added.<ref name=rr50/>

[[File:HMS Repulse leaving Singapore.jpg|thumb|''Repulse'' departing from Singapore on 8 December 1941]]
''Repulse'' was assigned to the Mediterranean Fleet when she recommissioned in April 1936. She transported 500 refugees from [[Palma, Majorca]], to [[Marseille]], France, in late 1936 after the start of the [[Spanish Civil War]]. The ship was present at the Coronation [[Fleet Review]] at [[Spithead]] on 20 May 1937 for [[George VI]]. ''Repulse'' was sent to [[Haifa]] in July 1938 to maintain order during the [[1936–1939 Arab revolt in Palestine#The role of the Royal Navy|Arab Revolt]]. She was selected to convey the King and Queen during their May 1939 Canadian Tour and she was refitted between October 1938 and March 1939 for this role. The twin 4-inch AA guns were replaced by two more Mark V guns and two additional quadruple .50-calibre mounts were added. The King and Queen ultimately traveled aboard the [[Ocean liner|liner]] [[RMS Empress of Australia (1919)|RMS ''Empress of Australia'']] while ''Repulse'' escorted them on the first half of the journey.<ref>Burt 1993, pp. 221, 224.</ref>