The Lion design receives radio direction finding, hydraulic systems, improved ammunition handling, and more capable 13.5-inch guns. Belt and deck armor increase until the displacement limit forces reductions in reinforced bulkheads, torpedo protection, and secondary armor. The result keeps a twelve-gun main battery while making survivability a deliberate set of tradeoffs. Each major refit takes roughly a year, so the campaign plans batches of about a dozen ships to return stronger units to service as quickly as possible.
Chapter · 27:16-37:55
A Lion-class major refit balances armor and firepower
A battleship refit adds fire control, heavier protection, and improved guns while exposing the cost and time of modernization.