Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 1:42:36-1:51:02

The Royal Navy's most consequential unbuilt designs

The panel considers Dreadnought sisters, G3 and F3 capital ships, Malta and CVA-01 carriers, postwar cruisers and additional modern escorts and submarines.

CVA-01F3 Class BattlecruisersG3 Class BattlecruisersMalta Class Aircraft CarriersMinotaur Class CruisersNaval ProcurementRoyal Navy
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Question

Which unbuilt warship designs were the Royal Navy's biggest missed opportunities?

Short answer

Candidates include G3 and F3, the Malta carriers, CVA-01, Neptune and postwar Minotaur cruisers, Dreadnought sisters, extra Type 45s and a more continuous Astute programme.

Notes

Fast capital ships such as G3 and F3 are proposed as useful additions to the interwar fleet, although their political prospects divide the panel. Malta is a recurring carrier choice, with CVA-01 also added to the discussion. Ordering three or four Dreadnoughts together is suggested as a way to give the original ship a larger immediate effect. Neptune and postwar Minotaur cruisers would address the shortage and exhaustion of the wartime cruiser fleet. Additional Type 45s and more continuous Astute construction represent a later version of the same concern about having enough capable ships.