Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 43:00-43:14

Why the R class aged behind the Queen Elizabeths

Eight planned ships did not erase the R class's lower growth potential and wartime limitations.

BattleshipsQueen Elizabeth Class BattleshipsRevenge Class BattleshipsRoyal Navy
Watch at this timeFull video guide
Question

Did the R class suffer because wartime construction left less allowance for a long peacetime life?

Short answer

Yes; despite the large programme, the R class were already regarded as second rate beside the Queen Elizabeths.

Notes

The Royal Navy understood that the Queen Elizabeth class were its first-rate battleships and the R class effectively second rate by comparison. Both groups might remain in service for years, but they did not offer the same speed or growth potential. That hierarchy shaped which ships received scarce reconstruction time and money. A large original building programme did not make every survivor an equal candidate for later investment.