Themes

Conflict and Change

• Introduction

• In Focus: 1900

• In Focus: World War One

• In Focus: Interwar

  • Surface Fleet

  • Submarines

  • Royal Marines

  • Fleet Air Arm

• In Focus: World War Two

• In Focus: Post War Conflict

• In Focus: Cold War Climate

• In Focus: Falklands and Beyond

• Special Exhibition: Falklands 25

Learning

• How To: Understand Propaganda

• Propaganda Image Galleries

• Education Project: Sea With Your Own Eyes

Interwar: Surface Fleet

Article Highlights

• Introduction

• Decommissioning and limitation

• Washington Treaty

• The Interwar ships

• Threat of war

• Rearmanent

The Interwar ships

Portsmouth Navy Week 1929 programme: HMS Nelson entering harbour. (RNM)

The debate of what to sacrifice when limiting tonnage characterised naval planning in the interwar period. Was the amount and size of guns the most important element of warship design? Was thicker armour and torpedo defences more important than high angle anti-aircraft guns? Were longer and faster ships worth the increase in overall tonnage? The answer was a balance of power, speed, range, armament, manning requirements and cost. The Admiralty compromised less on armaments, although as the years went on, different aspects rose and fell in prominence. For example, anti-aircraft guns became important in line with the increasing effectiveness of aircraft in the 1930s.

HMS Nelson Port Battery. (RNM)

Most of the ships of the interwar navy were from World War One. Any new designs had to conform to the Washington Treaty. The most striking examples of this were the battleships HMS Nelson and Rodney of 1922. The design carried the heaviest armament and best amour protection that the 35 000 ton ship could allow. Three triple turrets grouped all the heavy guns and magazines forward, behind a short length of heavy armour, reducing the overall length and weight. Unfortunately the top speed had to be reduced to a slow 23 knots and the arrangement of the guns was not the best to give all round fire and ran the risk of one lucky hit putting all the guns out of action. The two ships were undoubtedly strong and saw much action in WW2 but they were not as good as they could have been had the treaty conditions not been followed.