Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 8:06:55-8:09:47

Which lost warship would fill the greatest museum gap

Royal Sovereign is favored for the gap she would fill between surviving early ironclads and later battleships; other choices emphasize particular service records.

Ark RoyalHMS ImplacableMaritime PreservationMuseum ShipsRoyal Sovereign Class Pre-Dreadnought Battleships
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Question

If you could bring back any ship as a museum ship, which would you bring back?

Short answer

Famous candidates abound, but an early Royal Sovereign-type battleship would fill a particularly important gap in surviving naval technology.

Notes

Warspite, Nubian, Ark Royal, a Nelson-class battleship, and an Illustrious-class carrier all receive support as museum candidates. Royal Sovereign is an unusual preference because she would represent an early stage of battleship development that surviving vessels cover poorly. Mikasa is offered as the nearest surviving comparison, but from a later generation. Victory, Warrior, and surviving American battleships preserve other parts of naval development. HMS Implacable's postwar destruction is raised separately as the loss of a sailing ship of the line that could have broadened that surviving collection.