Q&A ยท 27:27-28:46

Rebuilding Royal Sovereign without a support system

Royal Sovereign's continued Soviet service would require replacement equipment and the shore facilities that had been missing during her loan.

Question

How could the Soviet Navy keep Royal Sovereign operating without British spares?

Short answer

It would have to replace most equipment apart from the hull and main guns and build the infrastructure needed to maintain her.

Notes

Keeping Royal Sovereign in service without a supply of British spares is treated as a near-total rebuilding project. The hull and main guns could remain, while most other equipment would have to be replaced. Her deterioration is attributed to the Northern Fleet's lack of facilities for maintaining a battleship of that size. Stalin is held responsible for demanding the ship without first providing the infrastructure to support it. A hypothetical order to rebuild her would consequently require new shore facilities as well as work on the ship.