Two competing reconstructions of the cancelled sixth Queen Elizabeth-class battleship propose different armaments. One gives the ship nine 15-inch guns in three triple turrets, while the other gives it six 18-inch guns in three twin turrets. The 18-inch case draws on the wartime gun programme, the guns later fitted in HMS Furious and the apparent condition of their barrels. It also includes a tentative suggestion of an intended 18-inch/42 gun. No decisive design document is available to prove either arrangement. Further research might strengthen the context without ever producing a document that settles the question.
Notable Point · 23:03-24:57
Reconstructing an unbuilt Queen Elizabeth-class battleship
Competing 15-inch and 18-inch reconstructions of the cancelled sixth Queen Elizabeth-class battleship show how naval historians reason from incomplete design evidence.