David Beatty pushed for the F2 and F3 concepts, both of which offered more attractive starting points than the final slow Nelson design. Beatty ultimately accepted the ship that emerged, but that outcome should not erase his earlier advocacy. Because he had the influence to advance a design through the Admiralty, his backing makes an evolved F3-derived 'D3' a plausible institutional branch rather than a purely modern fantasy. A target of roughly 28.5 knots would give an underperforming ship a chance of still achieving 28 knots in service.
Notable Point · 47:55-48:58
Beatty's support for the F2 and F3 alternatives
The F2 and F3 studies complicate a simple anti-Beatty story because he supported promising alternatives before accepting the final Nelson arrangement.