Q&A · 2:37:47-2:39:16

Would dockyard capacity limit the larger battleships?

Continued dockyard investment could support Hood-sized ships, while the scenario keeps capital ships around 40,000-60,000 tons.

Question

Would existing infrastructure determine how large the delayed-war battleships could become?

Short answer

Infrastructure constrains design, but planned dockyard expansion gives navies room for substantially larger ships.

Notes

Britain is described as approaching another roughly six-year cycle of imperial infrastructure investment. Construction occupies about three or four years, followed by a survey period before the next round. Without the 1914 war, more docks could be built or enlarged for ships on Hood's scale, with another investment cycle around 1920-21. France, Italy, Germany, and the United States also have dock expansion underway in the discussion. The projected ships remain around 40,000-60,000 tons, and their size limits the number of very large guns they can carry.