Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 1:34:33-1:36:27

Keeping HMS Warspite alive from 1914 to 1946

Warspite already survived the required period, so the counterfactual chiefly offers an opportunity to improve her guns before treaty limits arrive.

15-inch GunsHMS WarspiteWarship ModernisationWorld War IWorld War II
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Question

If the panel took command of HMS Warspite in 1914, how could it keep her in service until 1946?

Short answer

Her historical career already achieves most of the goal; the main change would be an early upgrade to 15-inch/50 guns before treaty restrictions.

Notes

The panel immediately notes that HMS Warspite historically survived from the First World War into 1945, so repeating her actual service is enough to preserve the ship. With foreknowledge, Dr. Clarke would use the pre-treaty period to replace her original guns with the proposed 15-inch/50 design. The crew-survival discussion is less reassuring because Warspite repeatedly suffered casualties, especially around exposed and after areas. The practical answer is therefore to follow the ship's proven survival path while using the counterfactual freedom to improve her fighting value.