Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 2:13:51-2:14:30

From Nelson to King George V hull forms

A hull-form question connects visible changes between two British classes to different armament and treaty-weight requirements.

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Question

How did Royal Navy hull design evolve between Nelson and the King George V class?

Short answer

The hulls reflect different design problems: Nelson had to deliver efficient 16-inch fighting power under a tight weight limit, while the King George V design's 14-inch armament changed the weight distribution available to the hull.

Notes

The answer cautions against reading hull evolution as a simple sequence of better shapes. Nelson and Rodney were optimized around the most efficient 16-inch-gun arrangement possible within their displacement constraint. Moving to 14-inch weapons changed the weight budget and allowed King George V's designers to pursue a different overall balance.