The Special Service Squadron's earlier Empire Cruise provides the model for a later F3 deployment. In the proposed 1929-30 cruise, Nelson and Rodney could visit Japan for Tsushima's twenty-fifth anniversary and show Britain's newest capital ships to Admiral Togo Heihachiro. The visit would emphasize the old Anglo-Japanese friendship during a period of renewed treaty bargaining. This is a suggested diplomatic use for the hypothetical ships, whose speed and endurance would let them make regular overseas appearances.
Notable Point · 1:19:40-1:21:56
An F3 cruise turns Tsushima's anniversary into naval diplomacy
A proposed 1929-30 cruise could take the fast Nelson and Rodney to Japan to mark Tsushima's twenty-fifth anniversary and display British naval capability.