"Royalist" had common DC and radars with RN frigates commissioned in 1956–58 and better speed in the Pacific seaway and real surface and anti-air defence. Actually more impressive than HMAS "Melbourne",for AA and surface fighting. THe RAN flagship was a legacy hull, primarily an anti submarine carrier its Sea Venoms, with AW/AD radar, but little speed a and caried only 20mm cannons a 500lb bomb or rockets . "Royalist"s close-in air defence of 40 mm STAAG 2 were initially sharper than other RN warships, used standard RN 40 mm ammunition, but by 1961 were a complicated, maintenance nightmare and withdrawn from other British warships by 1961. Britain could not afford escorts larger than destroyers in addition to its carrier and frigate force but the 5.25-inch DP guns, fitted to "Vanguard", and at Gibraltar to control the narrow straights as well as "Royalist" were accurate unlike the 4-inch AA on other 1950s RN cruisers. "Royalist" modernization for AA/AW and particularly AD support of RN carrier fighters and strike aircraft was useful for Musketeer and future operations of RN carriers East of Suez.