Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 4:06:38-4:06:54

Could Richelieu machinery give King George V 30 knots?

Probably not. The hull was designed for about 28 knots, so a machinery swap alone would not make it a 30-knot ship.

Hull DesignKing George V Class Battleships (1939)Naval PropulsionRichelieu Class BattleshipsWarship Speed
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Question

Could a King George V-class battleship reach 30 knots with Richelieu's machinery?

Short answer

Probably not. The hull was designed for about 28 knots, so a machinery swap alone would not make it a 30-knot ship.

Notes

Hull form is the limiting factor in this comparison. King George V is described as a 28-knot ship. Richelieu's machinery would provide a different power plant without changing the British hull that has to move through the water. A machinery substitution alone is therefore judged unlikely to produce 30 knots.