Q&A · 5:24:20-5:25:28

A shipyard that never stops building Lion-class battleships

An unstoppable yard delivering a Lion every two years would eventually leave the Royal Navy adapting battleship hulls for air-defense and cruiser duties or selling surplus ships.

Question

What if an unstoppable British yard began continuous full-rate production of Lion-class battleships in 1939?

Short answer

Britain would receive a Lion about every two years, eventually adapting later ships to new roles or selling them as the fleet became saturated.

Notes

In this magical-production scenario, the first completed Lion would arrive around 1941. A new keel would follow each launch, producing another commissioned battleship roughly every two years. Continuous deliveries through the present would eventually leave the Royal Navy dominated by Lion-class hulls. Later ships could be modified to meet air-defense destroyer and cruiser requirements, while some could be sold. The Navy would welcome the continuing supply, although the British government would be less comfortable with the result.