Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 5:02:52-5:09:43

Battlecruiser choices for British and Canadian fleets

Tiger, Vanguard and a treaty-defying K3 concept frame the historical choices; a modern Type 83-derived proposal raises questions about force structure and the battlecruiser label.

BattlecruisersG3 Class BattlecruisersHMS Tiger (1913)HMS VanguardK3 Class Battlecruiser DesignRoyal Canadian NavyType 83 DestroyerVertical Launch Systems
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Question

What vintage and modern battlecruisers would suit the Royal Navy and Royal Canadian Navy?

Short answer

Tiger and Vanguard are the initial choices, with a K3-style alternative and an enlarged Type 83 proposed for the modern role.

Notes

The pre-First World War choice is Tiger, while Vanguard is the Second World War choice. Clarke classifies Vanguard as a fully armoured battlecruiser because he distinguishes its full armour scheme from its battlecruiser subdivision. Another proposal favors a K3-style design with nine 16-inch guns and more than 30 knots, while acknowledging that it would not fit the treaties. For a modern ship, one suggestion enlarges the Type 83 concept, possibly using something like a G3 hull. The proposed mission combines presence and deterrence with carrier support, strike missiles and a large air-defence battery. Other panellists ask how such a ship would fit the navies' force structures and whether its role would differ meaningfully from that of a very large cruiser.