Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 1:42:47-1:44:35

Fast Nelsons would reset the interwar battleship race

A 28-knot, 16-inch Nelson at the full treaty displacement would create the first true fast battleships and force every major navy to recalculate.

Alternate HistoryBattleshipsFast BattleshipsNaval Arms RaceNelson Class BattleshipsRoyal Navy
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Question

How would full-displacement, 16-inch, 28-knot Nelsons affect later battleship designs?

Short answer

They would be the first true fast battleships and would pressure French and British follow-on design while reducing Hood's relative importance.

Notes

Such ships would be far more influential than the historical Nelsons because Britain would possess fast capital ships before foreign equivalents. France would face a stronger incentive to build fast allies. British follow-on design would likely preserve a similar profile and performance standard, while Hood's fleet position would become less singular. The effect flows from speed and armament together rather than either feature in isolation.