Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 2:13:34-2:14:52

A British super cruiser as a fleet-design release valve

A treaty allowance for fast 9.2-inch cruisers could counter Deutschlands and reduce pressure to make the King George V class perform every surface-combat role.

Deutschland Class CruisersKing George V Class Battleships (1939)Naval Arms ControlNaval ProcurementRoyal NavySuper Cruisers
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Question

Would Britain build treaty super cruisers if Germany fielded larger mini-Scharnhorst-type ships?

Short answer

Likely yes; a fast 9.2-inch cruiser could hunt Deutschlands and let the battleship program focus on different requirements.

Notes

A British super cruiser would be a force multiplier rather than a replacement capital ship. A fast 9.2-inch-gunned raider hunter could answer the Deutschlands without forcing every battleship to cover that mission. Designers would then have more freedom to optimize the King George V program, including its armament and declared performance. The cruiser allowance could therefore change battleship choices even though the two types served different roles.