Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 2:09:23-2:10:09

Would Hood's 18-inch guns make the US 16-inch/45 obsolete?

The United States might accelerate its 16-inch/50 weapon, while the brief exchange does not firmly settle whether the existing 16-inch/45 becomes inadequate.

16-inch Guns18-inch GunsHMS HoodNaval GunsNaval TreatiesUS Navy
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Question

If Hood carried 18-inch guns, would the US Navy decide that its 16-inch/45 was no longer enough?

Short answer

The pressure would favor the developing 16-inch/50, though it remains unclear whether the 16-inch/45 becomes inadequate.

Notes

An 18-inch-gunned Hood would not immediately invalidate the American 16-inch/45. The United States was already developing a longer 16-inch/50 weapon and could emphasize it in response. The short exchange does not reach a firm conclusion on whether the 16-inch/45 is insufficient. An altered Hood would change treaty and design choices without making every smaller-caliber battleship useless overnight.