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Dreadnought was a revolutionary design in 1906, but in a sense, she was obsolete before she was launched, thanks to submarines and self-propelled torpedoes. So, what would it take for navies to understand torpedoes were going to be more lethal than guns?

What happens if they do realize? Do battleships get better underwater protection and fewer big guns? Do they get faster, to avoid torpedoes (& so become more like battlecruisers, or heavy cruisers)? Do destroyers become bigger, or more important? (They'd seem likely to arrive earlier, which suggests they would be both; add a recognition of the importance of torpedoes, even moreso.) Do submarines become bigger or more important? (Ditto.) Does the "torpedo cruiser" become a major fleet unit? ( :cool: That seems likely.) Does the "torpedo cruiser" effectively become the "new battleship": *Dreanought as a fast CA with 24x21" TT?:eek: (Or more?:eek: { :cool: })

In addition, does this impact development of naval aviation? Do TBs become the attack a/c of choice, instead of DBs?

Does this impact torpedo development, too? Does it mean earlier homers? (If subs become more important, that would seem to follow.) It also suggests *Hedgehog, *Squid, & *ASROC happen sooner, in response to submarines...

Does this mean convoying civilian ships becomes mandatory sooner? Or do navies still not understand that?

Are there other impacts?

I recognize, even in the 1890s, or after 1900, it might be asking a lot for naval theorists to realize this, & I pondered putting this in After 1900, but the torpedo had 20yr development before 1900... However, proliferation of rams even beore the 19th Century might make the realization easier than I think.
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