Tiger was only about 4 feet longer and roughly 1.5 feet wider than Queen Mary, yet she was about 2,000 tons heavier. The extra weight marks a substantial design difference despite the similar dimensions. British planners were watching German construction and Japan's Kongo-class orders, alongside wider discussion of battlecruiser development. Encounters between opposing battlecruisers looked increasingly likely, while faster battle-line designs were also under discussion. Those pressures help explain Tiger's move toward the qualities of a fast battleship.
Notable Point · 8:08-9:30
Tiger adds substantial weight to a hull only slightly larger than Queen Mary's
Queen Mary, German construction, and Japan's Kongo class explain why Tiger's designers invested in a heavier ship.