Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 38:21-38:52

How the Nelson class handled rough seas

The Nelson class performed better at sea than its unusual appearance might suggest and could exceed its expected speed when needed.

Nelson Class BattleshipsRoyal NavySeakeepingWarship Design
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Question

How good was the seakeeping of the Nelson-class battleships?

Short answer

It was fairly good; they were not especially wet and could perform better in rough weather than some contemporary British battleships.

Notes

Nelson and Rodney were reasonably good sea boats rather than exceptionally wet designs. They could also reach more speed than expected when circumstances demanded it. Their behaviour compared favourably with the King George V class in a large storm. Unconventional layout does not by itself determine seakeeping.