Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 4:24:02-4:24:37

Why the M15-class monitors had no peacetime replacement

The M15-class monitors were emergency First World War tools, not the first generation of a standing force that needed routine replacement.

M15 Class MonitorsMonitorsRoyal NavyWartime Procurement
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Question

What did the Royal Navy intend to use as a replacement for the M15-class monitors?

Short answer

Nothing in peacetime; they were emergency wartime ships, and a new war would prompt another purpose-built monitor program if needed.

Notes

The Royal Navy did not need a direct successor once the war-specific requirement disappeared. If another conflict created a similar shore-bombardment need, Britain would again design and build monitors rapidly against that requirement. Emergency wartime types often vanish between wars even when the industrial capacity to recreate them remains.