Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 2:03:13-2:03:56

Nelson imagined in command of the battlecruisers

A counterfactual gives Nelson the First World War battlecruiser force and leaves the Grand Fleet to Jellicoe.

BattlecruisersCounterfactual HistoryHoratio NelsonWorld War I
Watch at this timeFull video guide
Question

What sort of ship or force might Nelson have commanded in the world wars?

Short answer

For the First World War, the proposed choice is the battlecruiser force, which would place Nelson opposite Hipper.

Notes

The imagined Nelson prefers the First World War battlecruiser force to command of the Grand Fleet. Jellicoe retains the main fleet while Nelson takes the role associated with Beatty. That produces a hypothetical contest between Nelson and Hipper, without predicting its result. No equivalent Second World War appointment is proposed.