Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 3:37:15-3:41:38

Historical battleship hulls for a modern capital ship

Montana, G3, K3, and the unfinished Iowas offer different ways to combine heavy guns with missiles, aviation, and flagship space.

G3 Class BattlecruisersGuided Missile BattleshipsK3 BattlecruiserMontana Class BattleshipsWarship Design
Watch at this timeFull video guide
Question

Which historical battleship design would you construct today, and how would a modern navy use it?

Short answer

The panel favors large fast designs such as Montana, G3, K3, or a missile Iowa, rebuilt around VLS, aviation, command, and some retained heavy guns.

Notes

A proposed Montana derivative combines one triple 16-inch turret, vertical-launch cells replacing the forward turret, and an aviation hangar. A G3 could use its unusual concentrated layout to shield missiles and electronics from gun blast. The larger K3 offers speed, 18-inch guns, and spare volume for extensive modernization. The unfinished Iowa-class hulls, especially the guided-missile Kentucky concept, provide another route into a Talos-era missile battleship.