Nelson and Rodney took part in major British campaigns and posed a serious threat to Bismarck, Tirpitz, and other German capital ships. German surface strategy depended on avoiding opponents of this weight rather than meeting them on equal terms. The class's heavy guns also supported amphibious operations, including the Normandy landings. Their service record supports treating them as effective combatants and deterrents despite their published speed. That individual success still leaves the fleet-wide opportunity cost of abandoning a common improved 15-inch gun.
Notable Point · 45:15-48:22
Nelson and Rodney as wartime heavy hitters
From deterring German capital ships to bombardment support, Nelson and Rodney proved useful even as the faster F3 alternative promised broader fleet-wide gains.