Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 1:37:47-1:38:54

Larger capital-ship docks as a long-term investment

Building facilities for K3- or G3-sized ships might add roughly half again to programme cost but would enlarge British options for every later class.

Dry DocksG3 Class BattlecruisersK3 Class Battlecruiser DesignNaval Industrial CapacityShipyards
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Question

How much more might Britain spend on docks if it built K3- or G3-sized capital ships?

Short answer

Perhaps about 50 percent more on the project, with the compensating benefit of larger facilities for later ships.

Notes

The required dock expansion could add about 50 percent to the immediate project, depending on how many facilities were enlarged. That expense would not serve only the first capital ships. Bigger docks and yard equipment could influence later King George V construction, carrier design and other large-warship programmes. The comparison treats infrastructure as a durable naval asset whose value continues after the original class leaves the slipway.