Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 4:51:14-4:52:33

The Lion class as Britain's greatest missed 1930s battleship opportunity

The brief answer points toward the battleships Britain designed for the post-treaty environment but could not complete once wartime priorities intervened.

British BattleshipsKing George V Class Battleships (1939)Lion Class BattleshipsNaval ArtilleryNaval TreatiesRoyal Navy
Watch at this timeFull video guide
Question

Which British battleship design of the 1930s was the greatest missed opportunity?

Short answer

The panel chooses the Lion class, while also noting the opportunity to arm the King George V class with a developed 15-inch weapon.

Notes

The Lion class represented Britain's intended move beyond the treaty-constrained King George V design toward a heavier capital ship. Completing the class would give the Royal Navy modern 16-inch battleships rather than relying on a mixture of new 14-inch ships and reconstructed older hulls. The panel also mentions a 15-inch alternative for the King George V class, using a newer gun rather than simply reusing the First World War 15-inch/42. Both options illustrate how treaty timing and gun-development choices narrowed what could enter service before the war.