Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 8:40:08-8:40:33

What Vanguard taught about postwar battleship design

A preference for completing the Lions rests on their expected space for future upgrades compared with Vanguard.

BattleshipsHMS VanguardLion Class BattleshipsRoyal NavyShip Modernisation
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Question

What lessons could battleship designers learn from HMS Vanguard after 1946?

Short answer

The Lions are preferred for their expected space for future upgrades, with Vanguard characterized here as a fully armoured battlecruiser.

Notes

The lesson proposed from Vanguard is that the Royal Navy should have completed the Lions. They are expected to have offered more room for later upgrades. Vanguard is characterized here as a fully armoured battlecruiser, while the Lions are treated as fast battleships.