Q&A · 1:42:28-1:42:53

Why dispense with an armoured conning tower?

Limited protection against heavy shells is weighed against armour weight that could serve elsewhere.

Conning Towers Naval Armour Royal Navy Ship Design

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Question

Why did the British dispense with armoured conning towers in the 1930s?

Short answer

A sufficiently heavy shell could still devastate the tower, while its weight could be used elsewhere.

Notes

An armoured conning tower could still leave its occupants exposed to a devastating hit from a heavy shell. Removing it releases weight for other parts of the ship. Lighter superstructure could allow the shell to pass through. That is a hoped-for outcome rather than a guarantee.