Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 2:16:35-2:17:06

The navies and Commonwealth fleet that operated battlecruisers

The difference between national building programs, ships that entered service, and Australia's operation of a British-built battlecruiser.

BattlecruisersImperial German NavyImperial Japanese NavyKongo Class BattlecruisersRoyal Navy
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Question

Which navies besides the Royal Navy built or operated battlecruisers?

Short answer

Germany and Japan built and operated them, Australia operated the British-built HMAS Australia, and Russian and US projects did not enter service as battlecruisers.

Notes

Britain, Germany, and Japan were the principal national builders and operators of battlecruisers. Japan's Kongo class places the Imperial Japanese Navy firmly within the category rather than making it a purely European type. Russia and the United States began construction programs, but their projects did not enter service as battlecruisers. Australia operated HMAS Australia within the wider British and Commonwealth naval system, while New Zealand funded a ship that served in the Royal Navy. The qualification separates the origin of the designs from the flags under which individual ships served.