Battlecruiser HMS Tiger, commissioned in 1914, was scrapped in 1932 after distinguished service to the Royal Navy. What if she hadn't been scrapped, and (being by all accounts in good shape) survived five more years, when the looming threat from Japan, Italy, and Germany was becoming obvious? Perhaps to comply with the London Naval Treaty she was demilitarized in 1932 rather than scrapped, like the Hiei of similar design; or a tired R-class battleship was scrapped in her place; or she simply languished rusting in some backwater. (No aspersion is cast here on Britain's compliance with signed arms limitation treaties, which was much stricter than that of most signatories).
Using our knowledge of the times and the technologies, and, yes, the benefit of hindsight, what would be the optimum course to get Tiger into shape to fight in the coming war, if you agree with me that the big ship would be useful? I suggest to you that a middle course would have been wisest, between the barest minimum (scrape the barnacles, slap on a new coat of paint, enlist a few hundred coal stokers, and sail to war to do her best) and the extreme and expensive reconstructions of the Kongo class and the Andrea Dorias, which among many other things lengthened and re-formed the entire hulls. I will call my refitted warship HMS Tiger bis, for clarity. Tiger bis would be about two years off her feet (say, mid-1937 to mid-1939) and would have the following work done:
· strip out the original direct-drive steam turbines, coal-fired boilers, and coal bunkers, and replace with modern geared steam turbines, new lower-rpm propellers, and oil-fired boilers
· entirely delete the underwater torpedo tubes and torpedo magazines
· replace the dated 13.5-inch guns (1410 lb Greenboy shells) with eight 14-inch Mark VII guns (1590 lb shells) as used on the new King George V battleships, and substantially increase the max elevation from 20°
· add modest bulges to the sides, to better resist torpedo hits
· drizzle anti-aircraft cannon around the weather deck, and [later] increase their number and update the weapons as the Second World War progresses, like all other capital ships did
· update communications, and [later] add radars and electronic warfare gear as those become available
Although they were out of production, Britain had some stores of 13.5 shells and guns left in the late 1930's, but I still think a firepower upgrade is indicated. Weight of metal on the enemy from Tiger bis's broadside is usefully more than the Renown class's 11,628 lbs (and also more than the Scharnhorsts, updated Kongos, etc.). No doubt during the refit, judicious additions of deck armor would be done, complementing the additions done post-Jutland, but I don't want Tiger bis to be heavier than, say, 4% above her 1918 full-load displacement, both for reasons of economy and also to avoid the serious weight problems of, for example, the Queen Elizabeth class and HMS Vanguard (as I said, hindsight is allowed). Some 6-inch casemate guns can be taken off as needed to help with this weight goal. There were no aircraft aboard after the two flying-off platforms for Sopwiths had been discarded, but I affirm Tiger bis has no aircraft handling capability. The ship is faster than her 29-knot maximum when new. Tiger bis is more robust and hit-tolerant than the flimsy Renowns (which nonetheless fought valiantly).
What do you all think of my suggested refit? Please weigh in. I believe this ship would have been worthwhile for many roles in WW2 against Japan, Italy, and Germany. I don't know whether Tiger bis would have survived the savage fighting (and speculation on that is welcome), but if she did, she would today be a proud museum ship in Portsmouth to visit, the last of the Splendid Cats, with funky red, white, and blue artwork on her hull inspired by the dazzle painting of yesteryear.
Using our knowledge of the times and the technologies, and, yes, the benefit of hindsight, what would be the optimum course to get Tiger into shape to fight in the coming war, if you agree with me that the big ship would be useful? I suggest to you that a middle course would have been wisest, between the barest minimum (scrape the barnacles, slap on a new coat of paint, enlist a few hundred coal stokers, and sail to war to do her best) and the extreme and expensive reconstructions of the Kongo class and the Andrea Dorias, which among many other things lengthened and re-formed the entire hulls. I will call my refitted warship HMS Tiger bis, for clarity. Tiger bis would be about two years off her feet (say, mid-1937 to mid-1939) and would have the following work done:
· strip out the original direct-drive steam turbines, coal-fired boilers, and coal bunkers, and replace with modern geared steam turbines, new lower-rpm propellers, and oil-fired boilers
· entirely delete the underwater torpedo tubes and torpedo magazines
· replace the dated 13.5-inch guns (1410 lb Greenboy shells) with eight 14-inch Mark VII guns (1590 lb shells) as used on the new King George V battleships, and substantially increase the max elevation from 20°
· add modest bulges to the sides, to better resist torpedo hits
· drizzle anti-aircraft cannon around the weather deck, and [later] increase their number and update the weapons as the Second World War progresses, like all other capital ships did
· update communications, and [later] add radars and electronic warfare gear as those become available
Although they were out of production, Britain had some stores of 13.5 shells and guns left in the late 1930's, but I still think a firepower upgrade is indicated. Weight of metal on the enemy from Tiger bis's broadside is usefully more than the Renown class's 11,628 lbs (and also more than the Scharnhorsts, updated Kongos, etc.). No doubt during the refit, judicious additions of deck armor would be done, complementing the additions done post-Jutland, but I don't want Tiger bis to be heavier than, say, 4% above her 1918 full-load displacement, both for reasons of economy and also to avoid the serious weight problems of, for example, the Queen Elizabeth class and HMS Vanguard (as I said, hindsight is allowed). Some 6-inch casemate guns can be taken off as needed to help with this weight goal. There were no aircraft aboard after the two flying-off platforms for Sopwiths had been discarded, but I affirm Tiger bis has no aircraft handling capability. The ship is faster than her 29-knot maximum when new. Tiger bis is more robust and hit-tolerant than the flimsy Renowns (which nonetheless fought valiantly).
What do you all think of my suggested refit? Please weigh in. I believe this ship would have been worthwhile for many roles in WW2 against Japan, Italy, and Germany. I don't know whether Tiger bis would have survived the savage fighting (and speculation on that is welcome), but if she did, she would today be a proud museum ship in Portsmouth to visit, the last of the Splendid Cats, with funky red, white, and blue artwork on her hull inspired by the dazzle painting of yesteryear.
