Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 2:03:44-2:04:08

If Italy received two Bayern-class battleships

Two worked-up Bayern-class ships would give Italy a substantial block of additional effective firepower and create a painful new problem for Britain.

Alternate HistoryBayern Class BattleshipsCapital ShipsItalian NavyRoyal Navy
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Question

How would naval affairs change if Italy received two Bayern-class battleships?

Short answer

A worked-up pair would add major effective firepower to the Italian fleet and pose a serious new problem for Britain.

Notes

The counterfactual assigns two Bayern-class battleships to Italy after the First World War. Their value depends on Italy having enough time to work the ships up and make them operate together. If that integration succeeds, the pair represents a large addition of effective capital-ship firepower rather than merely two foreign hulls on a list. The altered balance would be painful for Britain.