England planning new battleships according to the Dutch newspaper De Sumatra Post dated 8 August 1934

Nelson-class

King George V-class

Drawing made by G.J. Naerebout and originally published by G.A.J. Bovens in Van Zee tot Zee.

An item referred to the navy correspondent of the Daily Telegraph who wrote that in 1937 England intended to built new battleships with a tonnage of 22.000-35.000 tons depending on the eventual restrictions of the new Naval Conference. The new ships were especially to be protected against aircraft attacks. Extreme thick steel made covers were to protect the boiler and engine rooms. The command bridge and other important rooms were to be protected against machinegun fire from attacking aircraft. The armament was to include 8/12 quick firing guns and 6 heavy machineguns as anti aircraft artillery. The new guns for the main armament had a rate of fire nearly twice as fast as the temporarily guns. The battleships for the time being called King George V (1) were fitted out with steam turbines and diesel engines to increase the range to 20.000 kilometres.

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. General technical call specifications. Displacement 42.923 tons. Main armament consisted of 2x4 and 1x2-36cm/14”breech loading Mark VII guns.