Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 48:46-49:10

Could a battleship gun be replaced at sea?

Changing a battleship gun at Scapa Flow depended on heavy lifting and support equipment that a ship under way could not readily substitute.

BattleshipsFleet MaintenanceHeavy Lift CranesNaval GunneryScapa FlowShip Repair
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Question

Could Britain have designed a vessel in 1918 that changed a battleship gun at sea?

Short answer

Not while under way; replacing a battleship gun required a major crane and substantial support, although it could be done at a suitably equipped anchorage.

Notes

The Royal Navy could change heavy guns in remote fleet bases when the necessary equipment was available. Scapa Flow is the example given. Replacing a battleship gun required a large crane and substantial support for the lift. A ship under way at sea would not offer the conditions assumed by that kind of base repair.