Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 1:37:17-1:37:39

An Indefatigable class with the Lion gun layout

Putting the Indefatigable class's twin 12-inch turrets into the Lion arrangement improves the broadside and probably requires a longer hull.

BattlecruisersIndefatigable Class BattlecruisersLion Class BattlecruisersNaval GunsWarship Design
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Question

What if the Indefatigable-class battlecruisers used the Lion-class gun layout while retaining twin 12-inch turrets?

Short answer

They would gain a much better broadside and likely become longer, with possible secondary gains in speed and armor.

Notes

The Lion-style centerline arrangement would give the ship a substantially better broadside than the historical wing-turret layout. Accommodating it would probably lengthen the hull. The panel suggests that the altered proportions might also permit a little more speed and somewhat better protection. Those improvements make a sounder ship, but the brief answer does not claim that they overturn the wider strategic course of the battlecruiser program.