AFAIK the original plan for the 1912-13 Estimates was to build 4 battleships and one battle cruiser armed with 15" guns. The battleships would have been up-gunned Iron Dukes mounting ten 15" in five twin turrets in A, B, Q, X and Y positions. The battle cruiser would have been an up-gunned Tiger mounting eight 15" in A, B, X and Y positions.
Then it was realised that eight 15" fired a greater weight of shell than ten 13.5". If oil was used instead of coal more powerful machinery was fitted in the space vacated by Q turret the ships would be capable of 25 knots. Thus the Queen Elizabeth class was born.
AFAIK the ships ordered in the 1912-13 Estimates were intended to form a fast division at the head of the battle line. Therefore ITTL I think the POD has to be that the Admiralty decides that it wants a full squadron of fast battleships instead of a division.
When we come to the middle of 1916 I think the squadron will be split into two divisions. One division will remain with the main body of the Grand Fleet and the other will be assigned to the Battle Cruiser Force to take the place of the battle cruiser squadron that was at Scapa Flow for gunnery practice.
Though I still like the idea of all 6-8 available Queen Elizabeths being assigned to the BCF so that Evan-Thomas can use the speed of his ships to cross Sheer's T and give the van of the German battle line a thorough hammering.
Then it was realised that eight 15" fired a greater weight of shell than ten 13.5". If oil was used instead of coal more powerful machinery was fitted in the space vacated by Q turret the ships would be capable of 25 knots. Thus the Queen Elizabeth class was born.
AFAIK the ships ordered in the 1912-13 Estimates were intended to form a fast division at the head of the battle line. Therefore ITTL I think the POD has to be that the Admiralty decides that it wants a full squadron of fast battleships instead of a division.
When we come to the middle of 1916 I think the squadron will be split into two divisions. One division will remain with the main body of the Grand Fleet and the other will be assigned to the Battle Cruiser Force to take the place of the battle cruiser squadron that was at Scapa Flow for gunnery practice.
Though I still like the idea of all 6-8 available Queen Elizabeths being assigned to the BCF so that Evan-Thomas can use the speed of his ships to cross Sheer's T and give the van of the German battle line a thorough hammering.