Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 1:39:57-1:40:43

Why Britain scrapped 12-inch dreadnoughts after the war

Britain rapidly discarded most surviving pre-dreadnoughts and early 12-inch battleships, while retaining 13.5-inch ships partly as bargaining weight at Washington.

13.5-inch GunsFleet ReductionNaval TreatiesRoyal NavyWashington Naval Treaty
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Question

How much of Britain's pre-dreadnought and early dreadnought fleet was scrapped after the First World War?

Short answer

Most pre-dreadnoughts and many first-generation 12-inch dreadnoughts were discarded, while 13.5-inch ships were retained longer partly for treaty bargaining.

Notes

The end of the First World War left the Royal Navy with a large inventory of ageing capital ships. Most remaining pre-dreadnoughts and much of the first dreadnought generation went quickly to the breakers, especially 12-inch-gun ships. The 13.5-inch battleships survived longer in part because their paper strength supported Britain's negotiating position at the Washington Naval Conference. Disposal policy combined technical obsolescence, cost reduction, and treaty diplomacy.