Sydney endurance requirements could change the King George V class

A longer passage to Sydney could favour a narrower, longer King George V class hull with more fuel and more efficient machinery. Narrower beam would make quadruple turrets less attractive and reopen the choice of main armament. Nine 14-inch guns are judged insufficient against nine 16-inch guns, while triple 16-inch turrets are considered unlikely for this design. Nine 15-inch guns in three triple turrets offer a possible compromise, with potential uses in modernizing the Queen Elizabeth class and a possible negotiated 15-inch treaty ceiling. Higher-pressure boilers and turbines could help meet the endurance requirement, while the hull changes might also raise maximum speed to 29 or 30 knots. These are proposed consequences of choosing Sydney, rather than a fixed alternative design.