Why the British design reaches 50,000 tons loaded

The proposed British ships are roughly 40,000 tons standard but approach 50,000 tons fully loaded. That estimate starts from Nelson-class practice, then allows for a larger hull, more powerful machinery and the greater water requirement assigned to a 28-knot plant. Nelson and Rodney gain about 5,000 tons between standard and full load, while their 23-knot machinery imposes a smaller operating burden. The hypothetical Jellicoe class uses four shafts and period-appropriate technology, so its loaded displacement grows by almost 10,000 tons. Standard displacement alone can therefore hide much of the logistical mass required to operate a fast capital ship.