Q&A · 47:57-48:30

Why Renown did not need ten torpedo tubes

A ten-tube Renown was physically possible but operationally misguided because torpedoes were insurance, not the battlecruiser's principal weapon.

Question

Could the Renown class have been built with ten torpedo tubes?

Short answer

It could, but there was no sound reason to make torpedoes a primary feature of a battlecruiser.

Notes

Feasibility depends on what mission the extra tubes would serve. Capital-ship torpedoes provided a last-resort option when a battle closed unexpectedly or a crippled enemy came within range. Making them numerous enough to shape the design would turn a secondary precaution into a primary armament. That trade would consume space and attention better spent on the guns, speed, protection, and endurance that defined the battlecruiser's role.