Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 1:53:54-1:55:17

Arming a penny-pinching interwar battleship

Treaty limits make a 16-inch battery attractive, but Britain could economize with proven 15-inch guns or defer armor on a fast F3-style design.

BattleshipsLive Q&ANaval GunneryRoyal NavyWarship DesignWashington Naval Treaty
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Question

What is the smallest main-gun calibre worth using on an interwar battleship for a penny-pinching government?

Short answer

A treaty power should still seek 16-inch guns, perhaps deferring armor, while Britain could justify proven 15-inch weapons for fleet commonality.

Notes

For a treaty power, 16 inches is the smallest main battery worth choosing because the ship should exploit the permitted limit. The cost-saving sketch is an F3-style battleship with nine 16-inch guns, a speed of 28 knots, and incomplete armor. Like the County-class approach, the missing protection would be designed for later addition when money became available. Britain has another economical option because its established 15-inch gun fits the rest of the fleet and avoids a new ammunition family.