Q&A · 3:06:33-3:10:50

Four 15-inch British battlecruisers at Jutland

Four 35,000-ton, 15-inch battlecruisers would likely overwhelm Hipper's scouting group and leave the Queen Elizabeths concentrated with the Grand Fleet.

Question

How would four fast, well-armored 15-inch battlecruisers change Jutland?

Short answer

They probably destroy Hipper's force during the run to the south while strengthening the Grand Fleet by leaving the Queen Elizabeths with Jellicoe.

Notes

The hypothetical ships combine four twin 15-inch turrets, an eleven-inch belt, and roughly 28-30 knots on 35,000 tons. Their arrival with the battlecruiser force would give Britain a decisive advantage over Hipper and probably attract Beatty's flag to one of them. Whether their captains could resist his rapid-fire practices is disputed, particularly for the flagship under his direct supervision. The weight and size of 15-inch ammunition might give the captains a practical argument against unsafe handling. With these ships supporting the scouting force, the Queen Elizabeths could remain with the Grand Fleet.