Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 1:44:21-1:46:33

Renown and Kongo after modernization

Renown retained battlecruiser agility, but the rebuilt Kongos had moved farther toward the armour and fighting role of fast battleships.

BattlecruisersFast BattleshipsKongo Class BattlecruisersRenown Class BattlecruisersShip Modernisation
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Question

Did modernized First World War battlecruisers effectively become lightweight fast battleships?

Short answer

Some did: the rebuilt Kongos became fast battleships, while Renown remained a more agile battlecruiser with less ability to stand against a true battleship.

Notes

The rebuilt Kongo class belongs in the fast-battleship category, while Renown retained more of a battlecruiser's character. Renown's hull form and manoeuvrability could help in a battlecruiser engagement, especially after modernization. Against the later Kongos, she might still outmanoeuvre opponents whose protection and fighting role had moved closer to fast battleships. The comparison shows how reconstruction could move similar First World War ships into different operational categories.