Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 4:25:48-4:27:19

Why the King George V class received 14-inch guns

Britain's attempt to sustain a smaller treaty calibre is compared with a proposed nine-gun, 16-inch alternative using lessons from Nelson and Rodney.

BattleshipsKing George V Class Battleships (1939)Naval GunneryNaval TreatiesRoyal Navy
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Question

Why did Britain order 14-inch King George V-class battleships after other powers had chosen 15-inch guns?

Short answer

The choice is attributed to an attempt to lead treaty restraint, despite other powers already selecting larger guns.

Notes

Britain's choice of 14-inch guns is criticised as an attempt to lead treaty restraint after France, Germany, and Italy had already ordered 15-inch battleships. A suggested alternative is a 28-knot King George V design with nine 16-inch guns in three triple turrets. That arrangement would use experience gained with Nelson and Rodney and avoid the additional complexity of quadruple mountings. A new 16-inch programme could also provide an opportunity to improve the earlier ships' guns and turrets. These are proposed alternatives within the exchange.