Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 1:27:07-1:29:04

King George V armament without the 14-inch treaty limit

Without the 14-inch limit, Britain likely chooses nine 15- or 16-inch guns, with 15-inch weapons offering the best fleet-wide logistics.

BattleshipsKing George V Class Battleships (1939)Naval GunsNaval LogisticsSecond London Naval Treaty (1936)
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Question

If the Second London Naval Treaty had not set a 14-inch limit, what guns would the King George V class carry?

Short answer

Probably nine 15- or 16-inch guns, with 15-inch weapons the most attractive option for logistical commonality across the fleet.

Notes

The treaty-driven twelve-gun concept proved too heavy and became the ten-gun historical arrangement. Without the 14-inch limit, Britain could choose nine 15-inch or nine 16-inch guns in triple turrets. A 15-inch design would align the new battleships with Britain's large existing capital-ship fleet and encourage common gun upgrades. That commonality would simplify ammunition, maintenance, and modernization compared with introducing another caliber.