Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 7:23:13-7:23:32

Why semi-dreadnoughts survived into the dreadnought transition

France completed six semi-dreadnoughts because construction was already under way and could not be changed quickly enough.

Capital Ship DesignDanton Class BattleshipsFrench NavyHMS DreadnoughtLord Nelson Class BattleshipsSemi Dreadnoughts
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Question

Why did France complete six semi-dreadnoughts while Britain and Japan built fewer?

Short answer

The ships were already being built and could not be redesigned quickly enough, so completing them was judged preferable to receiving nothing.

Notes

France's six semi-dreadnoughts were already under construction as the dreadnought transition developed. Their designs could not be changed quickly enough to deliver dreadnoughts instead. Completing the ships already being built was judged preferable to receiving nothing from the programme. Existing construction commitments therefore constrained how quickly the fleet could adopt the newer type.