Renown, Repulse & Reliant.....

Ok this idea was inspired by the Douglas Reeman book Battlecruiser which is worth a read if you see it and have a long train/rail/bus journey coming up in the near future and like naval fiction.

1. What circumstances would mean a third Renown class battecruiser was built?

2. What are the chances of it being called HMS Reliant as in the book?

3. What effect would it likely have on WW1, the inter war years and WW2?
 
Only one of the class will likely get a major (read neccessary) rebuild in the interwar period due to lack of money. Does mean however that there is one more battlecruiser for the German surface raiders to worry about in the early period of the war.

Possibility of conversion or scrapping depending on the naval treaties ITL, maybe the British manage to keep her.
 
Possıble candidate for conversion to an Aırcraft carrıer. If the Glorious could carry 48 aircraft Reliant mıght have squeezed ın 60
 

Markus

Banned
Only one of the class will likely get a major (read neccessary) rebuild in the interwar period due to lack of money. Does mean however that there is one more battlecruiser for the German surface raiders to worry about in the early period of the war.

Lack of money? I asked what might have happend if the WNT had not come up or been delayed. One guy said: "spending 2 million quid pa on new BB construction was seen as quite sustainable from 1920 to 1929. I suppose its worth keeping in mind warship construction had a very high churn quota. Not much of the price paid left the home economy, other than raw materials, all the work was done in the UK. Hell they'd have taken 10-15% or so of it straight back as taxes."

I guess for that money one can also modernize the BC and QE-class BB. edit: Maybe not, Nelson and Rodney cost 7.5 million each, that leaves 5 million.
 
One less "R"

I'd expect that one of the Revenge class ships goes to the breakers to satisfy treaty requirements. Alternativly, if reconstruction on the third battlecruiser hadn't started by the time the treaty was signed, the one not being rebuilt already would likely be scrapped. The treaty specifically allowed some up-armoring on the Repulse and Renown since it was already being done. Without a rebuild, I think the Royal Navy would keep the battleship.
 
Ok this idea was inspired by the Douglas Reeman book Battlecruiser which is worth a read if you see it and have a long train/rail/bus journey coming up in the near future and like naval fiction.

1. What circumstances would mean a third Renown class battecruiser was built?

2. What are the chances of it being called HMS Reliant as in the book?

3. What effect would it likely have on WW1, the inter war years and WW2?

I've read Reeman's book also and felt it was a little wishy-washy. Wasn't one of his better works, but it is readable. I agree with Trekchu that he should not have named it Reliant.

1. There is mention that three ships had originally be contemplated, Repulse, Renown and Resistance. Resistance was cancelled. One could also suggest that the material (if any) for the cancelled Agincourt, of the Queen Elizabeth class, could be rounded up.

2. Resistance sounds better. Most probably since Reliant is associated a bit more readily with ST: Wraith of Khan.

3. Most likely completed by 1917/1918. I doubt she will be converted into an aircraft carrier. However, if completion is put off its possible that Resistance could cause the Royal Navy to cancel the Hood class and jump to the G3s.
 
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