Why Vanguard returned to a conventional battleship layout

Why did HMS Vanguard return to a more conventional battleship design after the innovative Nelson class?

Because rapid, reliable construction was the priority while newer battleship programs were delayed; a conventional layout reduced schedule and design risk.

Vanguard was not designed simply because the Royal Navy had forgotten the more radical Nelson arrangement. Speed of construction and ease of building drove the return to a layout derived from established British practice. The ship was meant to sustain fleet numbers during delays to newer, more advanced battleship programs. Its conventional form therefore reflects a procurement decision to control design and schedule risk rather than a judgment that Nelson's innovations had no technical value.