What was the likely order of Royal Navy capital-ship rebuilds, and how much delay would be needed to complete them?
Short answerHood was probably next, with Nelson, Rodney and the remaining Queen Elizabeths following in a yard-dependent sequence that needed about four more years.
NotesCompleting the broad program would require roughly four to four and a half additional years as more yards became available. Hood and perhaps Nelson and Rodney would receive full reconstructions, while the remaining Queen Elizabeths underwent less sweeping work. Published sequences and archival working papers do not always agree. One reading puts Hood first because available yard capacity could move her ahead of ships that appeared earlier on a formal list. Planned refit order was conditional on both work scope and which dockyards became free.