alternatehistory.com

Inspired by the CV/RN fleet discussion currently derailing the best weapons thread :D https://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=366330

In the late 30s the RN found itself having a fleet coming out from the limits of the treaty's coping with a growing size and number of threats.

The British had two serious and one moderate strategic naval threats during the 30's; The first was submarine blockade and raiders from Germany, the second is full on open sea fleet action from Japan, the third is Italy cutting off the Med. Germany was never going to be able to build a fleet to challenge the UK, Japan had already done so, and Italy just needed a fleet in being and land based air. To counter Germany they needed Battleships, the old ones will work fine, escort carriers, frigates, destroyers and slack transport capacity. For Japan, they needed Subs, a strong fleet train, strong naval air (full fleet carriers) cruisers and destroyers. Italy, given her position and strategy, needed extra transports (to re route, you can't decisively defeat the Air Force in one action to open the Med, and as long as said air force is there running convoys is really, really risky), cruisers and subs. They were also planning (pretty reasonably) on letting France handle that AoO.

I'm not sure I agree with the 'two serious and one moderate strategic naval threats during the 30's',

- Germany is the only threat that threatens (starvation or potentially invasion) the home islands directly and therefore is orders of magnitude more serious. (but is the weakest fleet)
- Italy is cutting the main empire trade route GB-India and therefore the second most dangerous threat (with the 2nd most fleet)
- Japan is the most distant with few potential clash points (especially pre coming south to FIC) (but the IJN is the strongest fleet)

This puts the RN in the awkward position (due to the inability to fund 3 good GB fleets) that it must prioritise the closers more dangerous threats and less the strongest opponents facing the weakest RN fleet)

But what would the RN need in a Sufficient 30s RN fleet to deal with the threats facing it around the world ? (cost no object but no technological cheating)

OTL fleet 1939 still showing the limits imposed by treaty's and tight budgets. (from http://www.naval-history.net/WW2CampaignRoyalNavy.htm)
15 Battleships & battlecruisers, of which only two were post-World War 1. Five 'King George V' class battleships were building.
7 Aircraft carriers. One was new and five of the planned six fleet carriers were under construction. There were no escort carriers.
66 Cruisers, mainly post-World War 1 with some older ships converted for AA duties. Including cruiser-minelayers, 23 new ones had been laid down.
184 Destroyers of all types. Over half were modern, with 15 of the old 'V' and 'W' classes modified as escorts. Under construction or on order were 32 fleet destroyers and 20 escort types of the 'Hunt' class.
60 Submarines, mainly modern with nine building.
45 escort and patrol vessels with nine building, and the first 56 'Flower' class corvettes on order to add to the converted 'V' and 'W's' and 'Hunts'. However, there were few fast, long-endurance convoy escorts.
What would be sufficient to really be able to stand against Germany and Italy and Japan ? (fleets will vary if you including the NM or not)
Top