Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 3:23:16-3:23:48

Could King George V carry more quadruple turrets?

A conventional extra quadruple turret was unlikely, but an all-forward arrangement might fit twelve guns within 35,000 tons.

All Forward Gun LayoutGun TurretsKing George V Class Battleships (1939)Naval GunneryShip Design
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Question

Could the King George V design have carried additional quadruple turrets by narrowing barbettes and shifting armor weight?

Short answer

Probably not in the conventional layout, though a purpose-designed all-forward ship might achieve twelve guns on 35,000 tons.

Notes

Narrower barbettes or reductions in deck protection would not automatically recover enough weight and volume for another historical-style quadruple mounting. Three all-forward quadruple turrets or another twelve-gun arrangement appear more plausible if the entire ship were designed around it from the start.