Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 7:26:35-7:28:35

Two ways to create a Second World War command ship

A navy can use a warship already designed as a flagship or convert a roomy merchant or landing hull into a specialized headquarters.

Air DefenceAmphibious WarfareCommand ShipsFlagshipsLanding ShipsLiberty ShipsSensorsWorld War II
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Question

How would the Royal Navy or US Navy design a dedicated command ship during the Second World War?

Short answer

Use an existing flagship-capable warship or convert a spacious merchant or landing ship with staff spaces and sensors.

Notes

A cruiser, carrier or battleship already built to serve as a flagship offers one route to a Second World War command ship. Its existing flag facilities provide a starting point for accommodating the commander and staff. Alternatively, a Liberty ship or a spacious landing ship could be converted and fitted with the sensors needed for the role. Wartime air-defence command ships included conversions from landing vessels, with early landing ships for tanks among the examples mentioned. The choice is between using an existing warship's command capacity and making a specialised headquarters from a roomy hull.