Q&A · 3:23:45-3:25:19

Triple 15-inch guns as a King George V alternative

Existing twin-15-inch ships could not simply accept triple mounts, but a new King George V design with three triple 15-inch turrets was a plausible alternative to the adopted battery.

Question

Could British battleships have used the experimental triple 15-inch turret?

Short answer

Not as a simple refit to twin-15-inch ships, but a new King George V design could plausibly have used three triple 15-inch turrets.

Notes

Rebuilding an existing barbette differs from designing a new battleship around another turret. A triple 15-inch mount would not fit safely into the ring and supporting structure intended for a twin 15-inch turret. Three triple 15-inch turrets were nevertheless a genuine option for the new King George V class. That arrangement offered heavier shells, while the adopted twelve-gun 14-inch battery promised more rounds and a higher statistical chance of hits.