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Friday 23 September 2016

British Royal Navy building new 35.000 tons battleships according to the Dutch newspaper Bataviaasch nieuwsblad dated 4 January 1937

King George V-class

An item dated London, England 2nd referred to the naval correspondent of the Daily Telegraph who pointed out that except for the fact that a day earlier the keels were laid down of the battleships Kong George V and Prince of Wales in 1938 another 2-35.000 ton battleships were to be laid down. All four ships were to be completed within 3 years which was 1,5 year shorter as the building of the battleships Nelson and Rodney. Their speed was estimated to be 30 miles.(1)

Note
1. King George V-class consisted of the King George V, Prince of Wales, Duke of York, Howe and Anson, preceded by the Nelson-class and succeeded by the Vanguard and by the never realized Lion-class. In 1928 was started designing this class regarded the limitations of the Washington Naval Treaty of 1922 which allowed non building of battleships until 1931. The design-process was for a second time halted due to the London Naval Treaty of 1930 which continued the building stop until 1937/ In 1935 started the Royal British navy again the designing process based on what already was achieved. The Treaty limited the displacement to a maximum of 35.000 tons and further more was the calibre of the main armament discussed. The choice was 14-16” with a first choice for 15” guns, However in October that same year it was decided that the calibre was to be 10-14” guns instead of 15”, a decision heavily protested by First Lord of Admiralty in 1935 Winston Churchill.