Royal Oak shows how weight savings could matter even without a dramatic speed increase. Heavier torpedo protection might allow the ship to survive the Scapa Flow attack and remain available for convoy escort. Faster Queen Elizabeths could enter and leave Mediterranean bombardment areas more safely, while improved fuel economy would stretch fleet stocks and deployment reach. These gains still demand dockyard capacity and money, but their larger cost-benefit case could keep yards open and justify a broader modernization program. An additional R-class escort could also release faster battleships or carriers from convoy cover for other operational tasks.
Notable Point · 1:08:39-1:15:15
Protection, fuel, and speed reshape wartime options
Machinery savings might improve Royal Oak's torpedo defense, release other capital ships from convoy duty, and make faster Mediterranean bombardment operations more practical.