Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 1:32:03-1:32:38

Refit or build anew: the yard-capacity decision

Whether an old battleship should be rebuilt or replaced depends heavily on where a navy has spare dockyard and fitting-out capacity.

Maritime Industrial CapacityNaval ProcurementNaval Refits
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Question

How does a navy decide between reconstructing an old battleship and building a new ship?

Short answer

The choice depends heavily on available yard capacity: free slipways favour new construction, while fitting-out capacity can favour a refit.

Notes

Refit decisions depended on the allocation of industrial space. A navy with available slipways might prefer new construction, while capacity in fitting-out yards could make reconstruction more practical. The whole dockyard system constrained the choice, rather than the age of a hull alone.