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Posts: 1496
Feb 14 10 11:33 AM
Just call me Author
POD Proposal β RN Battleship construction β Part 1
Background β What happened in OTL
King George V class: When war broke out in 1939 the RN had 5 King George V class in advanced stages of building β all were launched in 1940, and completed between 1940 and 1942.
Lion Class: 4 Lion class had been authorised (2 in the 1938 estimates, 2 in the 1939 estimates), but only the 2 1938 ships (Lion and Temeraire) had been laid down (in June and July 1939), and construction was not very far advanced. On 28 September 1939 the decision was taken to suspend construction although work on the gun mountings would continue (this will be an important factor in the discussion in Part 2).
Vanguard Class: Vanguard was based on an early study from 1937, which was dusted down and re-evaluated in 1939. There was much discussion in 1940 about the design. The order for the ship was not placed until 14 March 1941, and she was not laid down until 2 October 1941.
POD - Rationale
The POD for RN Battleships is mid/late 1940. With the French still in the war, and the MN Battlefleet still available to the Allied cause, there is much less need for the RN to consider ordering another battleship.
With the King George V class being completed as OTL, the RN feel that combined with the MN forces (Dunkerque and Strasbourg, with Richelieu and Jean Bart nearing completion), they have sufficient fast modern battleships available.
Consequently, there isnβt the need to lay down another ship β it would be a waste of resources that could be better used elsewhere. There is also less impetus to discuss the Vanguard design (which would tie up valuable design resource in the DNCs department), so the 1939 discussions die out and get quietly shelved.
Effect: Vanguard doesnβt get authorised in March 41 or laid down in October.
POD Team Discussion: Youβll probably want to think about the butterflies arising from this decision. The main one being that as of October 41 a large (battleship sized) berth and a lot of shipbuilding manpower has become available at the John Brown yard. Planning on how to use this berth would probably start earlier (say around May/June 41). Given the POD strategic position at that time, how best to use it?
This is something for you to decide, but here are some ideas to start off your discussions:
Β· Offer it up to the French, to enable them to speed up completion of Richelieu and Jean Bart β this gives a βquick winβ, as the ships are largely complete already, so the yard can probably complete work (freeing up the berth for another project) within 6 months or so. Also it scores diplomatic brownie points with the French.
Β· Build a third Implacable class carrier β John Brown is already working on one (Indefatigable), so they already have the plans to hand, and the experience in building it.
Β· Repair of damaged ships β do the RN/MN have any large (Cruiser or above ships) in need of repair?
POD β the decision to build again
Note β the following assumes that events follow βFFOβ. If however some of the events change (for example if Admiral Phillips and the Far Eastern Fleet still get defeated, but with a less savage outcome) then the drivers will change.
In mid 1941 the RN sees no need for new battleship construction. When does this change? The obvious answer is Japanβs entry into the war. This changes the whole strategic picture β especially after Admiral Phillips and the Far Eastern Fleet fights the Battle of the China Sea. Suddenly there is a need to make up the losses, and rebuild the battleline.
Proposed timeline:
(Edited to fix format issues - bloody Yuku!)
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