Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 4:33:15-4:33:37

Refitting the First World War fleet with improved 15-inch guns

An improved 15-inch/45 Mark II could have replaced older weapons across surviving 15-inch capital ships and raised the firepower of the whole battle fleet.

15-inch GunsBattleship ModernisationKing George V Class Battleships (1939)Naval GunneryRoyal Navy
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Question

Could the Royal Navy refit its First World War capital ships with the improved 15-inch gun developed for a new King George V class?

Short answer

Yes. Re-equipping the surviving 15-inch ships with the Mark II weapon could improve the whole fleet while retaining a common calibre.

Notes

The counterfactual treats the new King George V gun not as a one-class weapon but as a fleet standard. Existing 15-inch battleships and battlecruisers could be refitted with the improved Mark II design as their modernisations came due. Common calibre would preserve ammunition and support continuity while increasing performance across many hulls. The benefit therefore comes from fleet-wide standardisation rather than only from the specifications of the newest battleship.