I3V

The fact that the Queen Elizabeth and Revenge classes were still in service when this building programme came about says much, The Revenge class is much derided, but as an example these, the smallest Royal Navy battleships are around the same size as the US navy's biggest battleships, and with a decent refit would be better ships again. It's known that the British Government never expected war towards the end of 1939, but 1941 at the earliest, and more probably around 1944. This Building programme for the battleships reads: 1936 2 battleships, and 1937, 3 battleships, all of the KGV class. 1938, 2 battleships, and 1939 3 Battleships, of the lion class. It's known that there were bigger ships on the drawing board before and after the KGV's, so what can be called improved Lions or super Lions thereafter read: 1940, 2 battleships, 1941, 2 battleships, 1943, 1 battleship, and 1944 1 battleship. It's not known about 1945 and after if war had not come about so early, but it is the biggest battleship building programme in the world. Clearly, with the likes of Vickers Armstrong with High Walker Tyne and Barrow shipyards, Swan Hunters, John brown, Fairfields, Cammell Laird, Harland and Wolff at Musgrave and Victoria yards, Maybe Scotts or Clyde estuary, Portsmouth, Devonport, Haverton Hill (a huge yard but not experienced in battleship building) a reactivated Beardmore (because of Germany's build up, there would be more than enough time to re-activated many more yards than the actual number that were brought back into use, and train, bring back many more skilled people), there is around 25 to 30 berths that can accommodate KGV type ships alone, and around 20 berths for bigger battleships, which is more than any other country in the world, so Britain has no problem in achieving this. The fact that war comes early means merchant ships sunk, and needing replacement, so medium sized ships being built on very large berths to replace lost tonnage, so material needed for them and all resources. This happened in wartime. It should be noted that the US was deep in depression, and is argued that if war had not come about, America would still be in depression for many more years. Many say that if it were not for WW2, the US would of been in dire straights for an untold amount of time (1944 is a date that comes about with these discussions), and that she only came out of depression in WW2. By 1933 to 34, Britain came out of recession and was roaring ahead, and really showing her superiority by completing the worlds first real proper 1000 foot ship, then building the second with repayable loans, not subsidy. After 1938, those big slips were clear for battleships. after scrap and build, Britain's finance scheme was just coming into being in 1939 would of further increased her superiority in shipbuilding up against subsidised European US and Asian shipyards. New investment was made in heavy industry (guns and armour) and Britain was also leading in nuclear, as well as being the fastest on land sea and air (ok Italy in the air for a while, but with help from Britain). The early start of WW2 changed many things, for example, we bought Armour for some carriers from the great engineering company called Skoda, as our huge industry was taking time to come back into life, and can be argued that the war hampered this all along this period. Looking at our building programme, there are many issue that caused it not to be so productive, one being the massive strikes that are not talked about, and big brass arguing over Carriers against battleships alone with other issues I have mentioned. At this time, Britain is being bombed and up against it, with the rest of the Empire (for Britain is part of the Empire too), of Dominions and Colonies. The question is: what if war had not come about, or not come about for Britain, or if Britain had not gotten involved. And the Hood would of had her rebuild. I doubt if the guns and turrets from HMS Tiger would of been used in a new battleship with 13.5 inch guns though.