The Nelson design compresses N3 ideas into the treaty displacement and prioritizes armor and heavy guns. Raising B turret above A and C was intended to shorten the forward battery's footprint, although the practical space saving remains doubtful in this interpretation. The compact design was intended to operate efficiently and keep maintenance demands manageable. Its cramped arrangement nevertheless limited its suitability for long deployments to foreign stations. Hood consequently carried much of Britain's naval prestige abroad as the modern capital ship available for worldwide cruises.
Chapter · 13:03-17:44
Nelson as the ultimate dreadnought battleship
Nelson concentrated heavy guns and armor in a treaty-sized hull, but its limitations for overseas service left Hood carrying much of Britain's naval prestige abroad.