Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 3:30:30-3:30:43

How many Vanguards without the Second World War?

A British capital-ship counterfactual estimates a small series of Vanguards built one at a time toward a twenty-five-ship goal.

Alternate HistoryBattleshipsCapital Ship ProcurementRoyal NavyVanguard Class Battleships
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Question

If the Second World War did not happen, how many Vanguard-class battleships might Britain build?

Short answer

Probably three or four, ordered one at a time until the Royal Navy approached its desired capital-ship strength.

Notes

Without the Second World War, the Royal Navy might order Vanguard-class ships one at a time until it reached its desired capital-ship strength. The estimate is three or four Vanguards within a fleet aiming for about twenty-five capital ships. The passage gives a force-planning estimate for the counterfactual. It is not presented as a documented historical building schedule.