Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 3:37:53-3:39:05

HMS Vanguard survives into the Falklands era

If Vanguard survived the 1960s and remained supported through the 1970s, the appearance of Soviet Kirovs could justify retention and possible Falklands service.

Alternate HistoryBattleshipsFalklands WarHMS VanguardKirov Class BattlecruisersPower GenerationRoyal NavySurface-to-Air MissilesTiger Class CruisersWarship Modernisation
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Question

If HMS Vanguard had not been scrapped in the 1960s, could she have served in the Falklands War?

Short answer

Potentially; survival through the 1970s and a Kirov-era justification could keep her available for 1982.

Notes

Vanguard would first have to survive both the 1960s and the difficult years before a new strategic rationale appeared. Construction of the Soviet Kirov class during the 1970s could provide a reason to retain her. Her size and power-generation capacity would leave more room for surface-to-air missiles and other modifications than the Tiger-class cruisers possessed. A Tiger-style conversion could therefore be more practical aboard the larger battleship. If those changes kept her available into 1982, Falklands service would be possible.