Q&A · 1:37:47-1:38:59

Why Britain could build Dutch battlecruisers

Underused British yards could probably build four Dutch battlecruisers based on smaller King George V turrets, while the order would help finance British shipbuilding infrastructure.

Question

Could Britain build four Dutch battlecruisers based on the smaller King George V twin turrets instead of only three?

Short answer

Probably, because British yards had spare capacity and would welcome a foreign order that helped support their infrastructure.

Notes

The design's displacement would depend on its required speed and armour. British yards are nevertheless judged capable of building three or four Dutch ships in the 1930s. German yards lacked comparable spare room for the order. Britain would welcome Dutch money toward its underused shipbuilding infrastructure.