Q&A ยท 45:01-45:27

How surviving Russian battleships might slow reform

Saving more Russian pre-dreadnoughts would not solve dreadnought construction and might weaken the pressure to modernize shipyards.

Question

How would eleven more surviving Russian pre-dreadnoughts affect later dreadnought construction?

Short answer

They would not solve the construction problem and could reduce the reform pressure created by defeat in the Russo-Japanese War.

Notes

Saving eleven more Russian pre-dreadnoughts would not improve later dreadnought construction by itself. Investment in the yards was driven partly by the older ships' poor performance in the Russo-Japanese War. A less damaging result could therefore reduce the pressure for that investment. The surviving ships might leave the later construction programme in a worse position.