Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 1:07:44-1:10:32

An all-forward Lion would be a lateral design choice

A Lion with three forward triple turrets is not automatically inferior, but its wartime utility depends on the threats it would actually face.

Alternate HistoryBattleshipsLion Class BattleshipsNaval GunsRegia MarinaRoyal Navy
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Question

What if the Lion-class battleship used an all-forward, three-triple-turret layout?

Short answer

It could work and offer formidable firepower, but the design is only valuable in relation to the opponents and strategic problems the Royal Navy actually faces.

Notes

The all-forward arrangement is a side-step from the historical Lion layout rather than a simple regression. Taranto also shows that damaging Italian capital ships constrained repair capacity and fleet organization even when the raid did not sink every target. Three forward triple 16-inch turrets would concentrate Lion's firepower without necessarily changing displacement dramatically. Whether the layout pays off depends less on abstract superiority than on which surviving German or Italian battleships the ships actually meet after entering service.