Modernised KGV

True but if you follow the example of the USN where the Iowas were kept in service long after their last CA's and CL's were scrapped or in mothballs I could see the RN preferring to use a retained and functional KGV against the Belgrano vs say a county class destroyer.
The Iowas spent most of their lifespan in reserve/mothballs, little usage. The converted gun cruisers were worked hard.

There was, IIRR, an updated KGV (at least an updated Vanguard) in one of the Harpoon databases. Again IIRR modernised, 76mm OTO-Melera and Goalkeeper, SeaWolf and Harpoon/Tomahawk canisters plus helicopters.
 
Okay so lets see

1 - Cheap as chips - remove the 5.25s entirely, along with all 20mm mounts and 3/4 of the 40mm ones (if not all). Replace them with a pair or Sea Cat launchers on each side and call it a day.

2 - More expensive and later refit, 2 x Sea Cats become 4 per side, the last 40mm are gone and in their place some Green Mace are fitted (no more than say 5 able to bring 3 to bare on a broadside)

A wild Falklands conflict happens.

The KGV returns to the UK and undergoes a final refit. All Green mace and Sea Cat are eliminated. Two Phalanx/Goalkeeper on each side and 2 x seaborne version of Rapier SAM's (which were being worked on). 2 x 8 shot harpoon installed, radars etc are upgraded and the like. There's not really enough deckspace for much more, she's not got the great length of the Iowa's.
 
HMS Audacious is a fleet carrier

OK, so the Illustrious is a result of the Escort Cruiser process. to escort fleet carriers and provide independent flagship capabilities.

The through-deck layout was decided on way back in 1961 with Study 21 Escort Cruiser, its the best layout for operating large numbers of helicopters. As can be seen from the drawing below it had a gun turret, Sea Slug and Sea Cat SAMs.

gb-ch-escort-cruiser-series-21-1961.gif


By 1968 Study 22 has evolved somewhat.

CCH%20Study%2022.png~original


But between these ships were Blake and Tiger, showing both the potential of the Command Cruiser and the serious shortfalls of the conversions themselves.
 
I’d stick a couple Sea Dart launchers on her, Sea Eagle could feasibly be used by that launcher so ship with 32 Sea Dart and 8 Sea Eagle per magazine (when available) Add in 4x6 barrel Sea Wolf each with 4 manual reloads, definitely a helideck for 2 Sea King, post 82 then add 2-4 CIWS, after 86 add cruise missiles.
 
Radar space would be a problem, the Type 22's size was largely dictated by the requirements of the 2 Sea Wolf Fire units while the Sea Dart would also require similar multi-channel fire control radars. In any case the Sea Dart/Wolf are 70-s systems and our KGV will need a massive upgrade long before that. I vote this bad boy for the 50s:

984_6.jpg
 
Radar space would be a problem, the Type 22's size was largely dictated by the requirements of the 2 Sea Wolf Fire units while the Sea Dart would also require similar multi-channel fire control radars. In any case the Sea Dart/Wolf are 70-s systems and our KGV will need a massive upgrade long before that. I vote this bad boy for the 50s:

984_6.jpg

Nothing says big Radar like the first beyond the horizon phased array Radar AN/SPS-32 and -33
USN1059659_SCANFAR_Radars_%28SPS-32%2CSPS-33%29_CVN-65_Enterprise_1962-02-10.jpg

This was a lot heavier than the 984. Bonus is the blocky shape would fit right in with the KGV
 
Nothing says big Radar like the first beyond the horizon phased array Radar AN/SPS-32 and -33
USN1059659_SCANFAR_Radars_%28SPS-32%2CSPS-33%29_CVN-65_Enterprise_1962-02-10.jpg

This was a lot heavier than the 984. Bonus is the blocky shape would fit right in with the KGV

Not enough pork in that barrel.

In all seriousness I think the 984 might have been more useful than the Enterprise and Long Beach billboards because the latter were so unreliable whereas the 984 could have been upgraded to the electronically scanned 985.
 
Scenario:

Earlier than OTL reduction of KM surface forces means that the RN focuses on completion of lighter assets, such as Tiger/Lion/Blake, during WW2. Howe and Anson are delayed until after the war's end; Vanguard is never laid down.

Anson and Howe are, belatedly, completed post-war, more or less to their original design. Radar and light AA fittings likely reflect Pacific War experience. They do the stuff Vanguard did historically, into the late fifties or so. There are proposals for radical re-builds with Polaris, Sea Slug, and all that jazz, but nothing ever comes of it.

With mid-sixties manpower problems, the general obsolescence of battleships, and so on, Anson is laid up and cannibalized for parts to keep Howe going.

Howe gets the Tiger/Blake treatment in the late sixties:

-The aft turret is removed and replaced by a big-arsed hanger/deck for ~4 to 6 helicopters.

-The 5.25" secondaries are replaced by more ubiquitous twin Mk 6 4.5" (four lower mounts) and Sea Cat installations (four upper mounts).

-Exocet is considered but never installed.

-New radars and command/control facilities. No sonar because battleships don't do ASW.

She's popular as a task force flagship, but is still a manpower hog, as crew requirements probably stay around the same - reduction of the gun crews is offset by air group and additional command/control people. Odds are she's laid up in the late seventies. Is she re-activated for the Falklands War (assuming there is one)? I dunno.
 
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