Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 1:58:56-1:59:24

Could HMS Tiger take 14-inch guns?

Tiger could probably accept British 14-inch guns, but the small increase over 13.5 inches would still press closely against the existing barbettes.

BarbettesHMS Tiger (1913)Naval GunneryRoyal NavyShip Modernisation
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Question

Could HMS Tiger have been rearmed with British 14-inch Mark VII guns?

Short answer

Probably, because the calibre increase was small, but the existing barbettes would make the fit very tight.

Notes

The jump from Tiger's 13.5-inch guns to the British 14-inch Mark VII is modest enough to make rearmament plausible. The limiting problem is the diameter and working clearance of the existing barbettes. The conversion could probably be made to fit. Designers might still find themselves wishing for several more inches of internal space.