The Queen Elizabeth-class discussion separates the ships that were built from more ambitious options considered during their design. One possibility is a 28-knot ship with triple turrets and twelve 15-inch guns, followed by an outside chance of 16.5-inch weapons. Such a standard in 1914-15 would have required greater displacement, influenced later designs such as HMS Hood, and potentially changed the damage inflicted at Jutland. The historical move to 15-inch guns was still large but measured, especially beside the Royal Navy's preceding 13.5-inch super-dreadnoughts.
Notable Point · 24:23-30:34
Queen Elizabeth-class design alternatives
A preview of the Queen Elizabeth class explores how boilers, turret choices, speed, and gun calibre could have produced a much more radical battleship.