Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 2:16:58-2:18:54

A Lord Nelson-style Mikasa at Tsushima

Giving Mikasa four 12-inch and multiple 9.2-inch guns increases flagship firepower at Tsushima and could strengthen the case for all-big-gun battleships.

Battle Of TsushimaJapanese NavyLord Nelson Class BattleshipsMikasaPre-Dreadnoughts
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Question

What if Mikasa became a Lord Nelson-style pre-dreadnought in 1904?

Short answer

She would hit harder at Tsushima and could influence the debate that produced Dreadnought and later all-big-gun ships.

Notes

The 9.2-inch secondary battery gives Mikasa more useful range and weight of fire during the opening fleet turn and the sustained engagement at Tsushima. When the flagship turns, guns on the opposite side can also enter the action, making the mixed battery's contribution more visible. A conspicuous performance might validate the Lord Nelson-style combination of heavy and intermediate guns. Observers could instead conclude that replacing the 9.2-inch weapons with a full broadside of 12-inch guns would be even more effective. Those possible readings connect the battle's evidence to the design debate that produced Dreadnought and later all-big-gun ships.