Two plans were envisioned: one in which four old, spare twin 15-inch gun turrets could be dropped into a new 45,000-ton ship ( Vanguard project) or one in which the four quadruple turrets earmarked for the last two of the KGV series ( Anson and Howe) might be incorporated into one mighty, slightly faster super-dreadnought of some 52,000 tons (extra length and additional boilers for added speed added a distinctive third funnel). The sixteen-inch rifles that were to go on the new Lion class of battleships suffered design problems, and was going to delay completion of the ships. Increasing hostility in the Far East, where Japan had dreadnoughts both powerful and fast, created some urgency in getting a more formidable, even faster warship than the KGV's out to help defend Singapore and other British interests. Once the original Treaty had expired it seemed that the world was not impressed by Britain's self-restraint in size and caliber, and if Britain were not to fall behind, something would have to change. Several of this class were designed and built for the new Royal Navy. Protection was world-class at the time and speed was modest, but faster than the Royal Navy's World War one leftovers. Three such turrets, a superfiring pair in front and a single in the stern, were initially envisioned, but stability concerns, magazine protection, and weight limits relegated the forward superfiring turret to a twin instead of a quadruple. The subsequent King George V class of dreadnoughts complied fully with the Washington Naval Treaty limits of 35,000 tons standard displacement, and the fourteen-inch gun in quadruple turrets was selected for the main armament partially as an example to the world that bore size needn't be increased to the Treaty's 16-inch limit to have a fine battleship. sound files download sound files downloadÄuring the 1936 London Naval Treaty discussions, Britain insisted upon fourteen-inch guns as the maximum sized armament for battleships, but the Japanese delegation balked and succeeded in having the 16-inch clause retained (historically true, but in "Grand Fleet", even while scheming to build the 18-in gunned Kii!).
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