British battleship HMS (Beatty) Howe (53) 1937-1961

Photo taken 1942-1943. Original source

Farm Security Administration-Office of War Information Photograph Collection (Library of Congress)

Laid down by the Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company, Clyde, Scotland on 1 June 1937, launched on 9 April 1940, completed on 31 March 1941, commissioned on 29 August 1942, flagshipTraining Squadron at Portland, since 1946, in the reserve since 1950, to be disposed in 1957, sold to be broken up by T.W. Ward and Co. at Inverkeithing, Scotland in 1958 which was completed in 1961. Original to be named Beatty.

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.