How would triple 15-inch armament have changed the King George V class?
Short answerIt could bring the ships into service sooner, simplify ammunition supply, reduce turret failures, and enable broader 15-inch gun upgrades across the fleet.
NotesReducing a turret from four guns to three removes many interactions that make multi-gun mountings difficult, while British experience with Nelson-class triples offered a useful foundation. Earlier completion and greater mechanical reliability could leave Prince of Wales with six or nine functioning guns rather than the severe losses experienced against Bismarck. A new 15-inch/45 could use existing ammunition infrastructure and support upgrades across older battleships. That commonality would ease overseas deployment, allow new shells alongside old stocks, and spread the development benefit across the battle fleet.