Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 2:14:34-2:15:30

The procurement case for evolving a proven hull

Technology does not automatically obsolete a sound hull; constant redesign can consume money without delivering ships.

Admiral Class BattlecruisersDesign EvolutionNaval ProcurementRenown Class BattlecruisersWarship Design
Watch at this timeFull video guide
Question

Would advancing technology have made continued Renown construction obsolete?

Short answer

No. The Royal Navy could evolve a proven Renown design, while repeated Admiral-class redesign risked spending money without completing ships.

Notes

The alternative is to evolve Renown with a third triple-gun turret rather than repeatedly changing the Admiral scheme as new ideas appeared. A navy can incorporate advances into variants of a working design, while an endless effort to capture every new technology risks delay, sunk cost, and no completed force.