Editing Renown-class battlecruiser (section)

====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>