Q&A · 7:42-17:41

Which cancelled prewar dreadnought designs stand out?

A speculative stacked-turret Dreadnought and a practical triple-turret St Vincent offer two different answers.

Question

Which cancelled pre-World War I dreadnought design interests you most?

Short answer

Drachinifel selects two: the Dreadnought arrangement he calls Dread Lantern and the more practical triple-turret St Vincent alternative, which he thinks should have been built.

Notes

The two choices represent different levels of practicality. The Dreadnought proposal offered a twelve-gun broadside through a stack of three twin turrets at each end, but its topweight made stability a serious obstacle. The St Vincent alternative was a stronger contender for construction, with three triple turrets providing a useful nine-gun broadside. Choosing it could also have started the Royal Navy's development of triple turrets and later centreline arrangements much earlier.