Q&A ยท 1:11:59-1:12:54

Why a new HMS Victory would need to be visible

A proposed active HMS Victory would serve as a visible surface flagship, favoring a carrier or another large surface ship.

Question

If the historic HMS Victory received a year suffix and the name passed to a new warship, what kind of ship could carry it?

Short answer

The preference is for a visible fleet flagship, such as an aircraft carrier or a major surface ship, rather than an SSBN or SSN.

Notes

Reusing Victory for an active warship raises the question of what kind of vessel should bear the name. A ballistic-missile submarine is rejected as an awkward association, while an attack submarine would spend much of its service unseen. The preference is for a fleet flagship that can appear around the world. That points toward an aircraft carrier or another very large surface ship.