Building five R-class ships as improved 24-knot Queen Elizabeths, with another construction slot in each group used for a battlecruiser, would produce ten fast battleships. Once the Royal Navy established a 24-knot battle line, it would be reluctant to let later ships such as Nelson and Rodney slow it down. Faster British 15-inch ships could also dictate range against slower American contemporaries. The scenario shows how one procurement sequence can establish a fleet-wide speed standard that constrains later domestic and foreign designs.
Notable Point · 58:00-59:17
A 24-knot battle line would pressure British and American successors
Five R-class ships developed as 24-knot Queen Elizabeth improvements could establish a faster British battle line and shape both Nelson-class and American design choices.