Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 3:20:10-3:23:05

A fully funded postwar Royal Navy

Asteroid wealth could fund an eight-carrier force, larger surface combatants, autoloading cruisers, all the Darings, and later missile-era replacements.

Aircraft CarriersAlternate HistoryDaring Class Destroyers (1949)Malta Class Aircraft CarriersMinotaur Class CruisersNaval ProcurementPostwar BritainRoyal Navy
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Question

How could unlimited new wealth upgrade the Royal Navy after 1945?

Short answer

It could complete the Maltas and Darings, fund modern gun cruisers and larger surface combatants, and support a later transition to missile ships and successor carriers.

Notes

In this fantasy scenario, a controlled flow of asteroid gold removes Britain's postwar funding constraint. The proposed fleet includes all the Malta-class carriers, followed by successors to bring the modern carrier force to eight ships. A large surface combatant, whether a fast battleship or a battlecruiser-like design, accompanies full six-inch autoloading cruisers and the complete Daring destroyer program. Continued funding would also support the later transition to missiles. That could include large missile destroyers, missile conversions of Minotaurs and Lions, and new carriers replacing the first Maltas.