The King George V class as a strong but compromised treaty battleship

Were the King George V-class ships the best treaty battleships?

They have an excellent armor scheme and useful dual-purpose battery, but their 14-inch main guns and quadruple turrets remain important compromises against rival designs.

A warship can suit the war it fought without making every design choice ideal. The preferred alternative here is a flexible three-triple-turret concept that could accommodate 14-, 15-, or 16-inch guns late in design. The existing class still had strong protection and secondary armament. The 5.25-inch dual-purpose battery and armor scheme support a strong case for the class, but the quadruple turret and 14-inch main gun remain compromises. Washington earns separate praise because one successful ship does not erase the North Carolina class's early vibration problems.