Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 3:52:05-3:52:26

What the KGV and Lion classes were meant to replace

The King George V class is framed as the R-class replacement, while the larger Lion class would succeed the Queen Elizabeths.

Force StructureKing George V Class Battleships (1939)Lion Class BattleshipsQueen Elizabeth Class BattleshipsRevenge Class Battleships
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Question

How should the intended service role of the King George V class be understood?

Short answer

Treat the KGVs as replacements for the R class and the Lions as replacements for the Queen Elizabeth class.

Notes

The class sequence becomes clearer when each design is tied to the ships it was intended to replace. The King George V class filled the role of a second-line R-class successor rather than replacing every older fast battleship. The more powerful Lion class was the intended successor to the Queen Elizabeths. This force-structure view explains why the two new classes differed in size and capability instead of representing competing answers to the same requirement.