King George V-class
An item dated London, England 19th December referred to the newest Jane’s Fighting Ships which was just published. The news item was especially dealing with the shipbuilding programs of the major naval powers England, France, Italy, Japan added with Russia and Germany but strangely not mentioning the USA. The English program consisted of 5 battleships, 5 aircraft carriers, 18 cruisers, 32 destroyers and 15 submarines. No official details were supplied dealing with the battleships Lion and Temeraire (1) which were expected to be laid down in March 1939 and probably armed with 16” guns. The 5 battleships (2) now being built were -unofficially stated- armed with 14” guns and officially was reported armed with anti aircraft guns and with a heavier armour.
Notes
1. The planned successors of the King George V-class were the six 43.230 tons Lyon-class battleships to be armed with 40,6cm/16” guns, to be built under the naval programmes of 1938-1940 of which just two were laid down but none completed.
2. 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. The names Jellicoe and Beatty were not used. The Jellicoe became the Anson, the Beatty the Howe with the original planned Anson became the Duke of York.