Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 2:47:10-2:48:07

Could Australian docks support a Queen Elizabeth?

Late-1930s Australia had at least a couple of docks able to support major warships, with more heavy infrastructure than survived later postwar rationalization.

Dry DocksNaval BasesNaval LogisticsQueen Elizabeth Class BattleshipsRoyal Australian Navy
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Question

How many Australian dry docks could take a Queen Elizabeth-class ship by the late 1930s?

Short answer

At least a couple could, because Australia then retained more major dry-dock capacity than survived the dock closures and infilling of the 1970s.

Notes

Australia possessed more suitable dry-dock capacity in the late 1930s than survived by the 2024 recording. At least a couple of facilities could accommodate a Queen Elizabeth-class battleship. Much of that capacity was later lost when docks were filled in during the 1970s. Operating battleships during World War II might have encouraged Australia to preserve more of those facilities.