Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 2:48-3:24

Were G3 battlecruisers intended for 16-inch or 16.5-inch guns?

G3 main-battery flexibility could have influenced the gun-calibre ceiling adopted by a later naval treaty.

16.5-inch Guns16-inch GunsG3 Class BattlecruisersNaval Arms ControlNaval Gunnery
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Question

Were the G3 battlecruisers intended to carry 16-inch or 16.5-inch main guns?

Short answer

The design could accept either calibre, though 16-inch guns were the likelier fit and 16.5-inch weapons remained a genuine option.

Notes

The G3 design was developed with room for either 16-inch or 16.5-inch main guns, with the 16-inch fit presented as the likelier choice. The larger calibre remained a genuine option. Had the Royal Navy already fielded 16.5-inch guns when treaty limits were negotiated, the permitted ceiling might also have been set at 16.5 inches. That would have made any later attempt to develop an 18-inch gun more contentious.