A public launch comes long before a capital ship is ready for battle. King George V and Prince of Wales were due to launch in February and May 1939, yet neither would be an immediately usable fleet unit. A January Pacific war could accelerate fitting-out, trials, and commissioning, but it could not erase first-of-class work or the physical tasks remaining after launch. Carriers would face the same pressure because the eastern war makes both battleships and naval aviation urgent. An unfinished shipbuilding programme cannot become combat power through a change of priorities alone.
Chapter · 6:49-8:01
Launching is not commissioning for the King George V class
King George V and Prince of Wales may launch in early 1939, but an urgent Pacific war still has to compress fitting-out, trials, and commissioning before they can fight.