How two 15-inch Tigers complicate Renown and Queen Elizabeth

A 15-inch Tiger would be distinct enough that the Royal Navy would likely order a sister to make the capability available as a pair. Building one or two Tigers had been considered historically, but no sister named Leopard was ordered. Two ships with eight 15-inch guns at about 28 knots would make John Fisher's proposed replacement of three R-class battleships with Renown and Repulse harder to justify. Fisher might still pursue the change, but roughly 33 knots with six guns would have to justify giving up two guns. Introducing the calibre jump in Tiger could also leave the Queen Elizabeth class free to pursue greater speed. The Royal Navy's usual method of removing a turret, adding boilers, and reducing armor explains the smaller battlecruiser batteries. It did not impose a rule that battlecruisers must carry fewer guns than battleships.