Refitting the Nelson class in 1937

What major refit should a Nelson-class battleship receive in 1937, and how would it affect capability?

Modern machinery and selective protection or armament improvements are possible, but a rebuild must be limited by time, weight, and the need to keep battleships available.

The panel treats the refit as a balance between technical opportunity and fleet availability. Replacing the six-inch and single 4.7-inch weapons with 4.5-inch dual-purpose mounts would improve anti-aircraft defence and free weight for more pom-poms. New boilers and turbines could improve machinery, while lessons from Ark Royal and the Illustrious class suggest that three shafts need not remain doctrinally unacceptable. A more radical rebuild could reshape the bow and stern for efficiency, but that work would extend the yard period. Heavier shells or a new 16-inch gun would demand stronger handling equipment and development, and every addition lengthens the period in which the Royal Navy loses a frontline battleship.