Q&A · 4:58:40-5:02:41

Renown-class battlecruisers built as Tiger follow-ons

A sustained Tiger line would give Britain more 15-inch fast ships and 9.2-inch cruisers before Jutland, threatening the German scouting group early in the battle.

Question

What if Renown and Repulse were built as follow-on 15-inch HMS Tiger designs, accompanied by 9.2-inch cruisers?

Short answer

Britain would field a much stronger fast wing, and the German battlecruisers might be destroyed during Jutland's opening run to the south.

Notes

Renown and Repulse were wartime adaptations of R-class battleship orders, so a Tiger follow-on requires Britain to order battlecruisers alongside the Queen Elizabeths and Rs. Some accompanying 9.2-inch cruisers could be available by Dogger Bank, with more of the expanded force ready for Jutland. The combination of 28-knot ships and additional 15-inch guns would expose the German First Scouting Group to heavier fire for longer. It could suffer enough damage during the run to the south that Jutland ended after its opening phase, with any later fleet battle taking place under different conditions. An additional cruiser force would also bring another senior commander alongside Beatty. That officer might independently transmit information, as other subordinate commanders were willing to do.