Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 53:13-53:40

Why Rodney's guns were poor candidates for Vanguard

Rodney's worn guns after the Normandy campaign made cannibalising her armament for Vanguard less attractive than it first appears.

16-inch GunsGun Barrel WearHMS RodneyHMS VanguardNaval GunneryNormandy Landings
Watch at this timeFull video guide
Question

Why did the Royal Navy not cannibalise HMS Rodney's guns for Vanguard?

Short answer

Rodney's guns were worn after the Normandy campaign, so their apparent availability overstated their remaining usefulness.

Notes

HMS Rodney's 16-inch guns look like possible armament for HMS Vanguard until their material condition is considered. Rodney's guns were worn after the Normandy bombardments. Reusing a nominally available weapon is therefore different from obtaining a serviceable battery with a long remaining life. Conversion proposals must account for barrel wear and wartime use, rather than merely count existing turrets.