Admiral Class Battleships.
Mihoshik has made a case for a different set of ships being available and built by the RN during the late 1930's. After a series of PM's these are the drawings he/we came up with to support a slightly different Fisherless timeline.
The replacement 'R' class now become the King George V class, at the 35,000 ton limit, with 5 ships being built. One complete in 1939 (KGV), two more in 1940 (Duke of York and Duke of Kent), one in 1941 (Prince of Wales) and the last in 1942 (Queen Victoria). Using the guns from the 'R' class means the ships have an average building time of 3 1/2 years.
The three new Admiral class ships wait an extra six months for the escalation clause to 45,000 ton ships due to the Japanese not ratifying the latest Treaty. The ships utilise the 12 spare triple 15" turrets that had been in storage from the uncompleted and converted Majestic class ships. This gives three 45,000 ton, 30 knot, ships armed with 12x15". These would be the Hood, Anson and Howe. (Keeping the Majestic class turrets means that the Nelson and Rodney need to be built with 16"). Utilising the older 1916 triple turrets speeds up the production considerably and the ships complete in 3 1/2 years. The first ship is laid down in late 1936 with completion in April/May 1940. The second completes in December 1940, while the third unit is delayed by the steel shortage of 1941 and does not complete till October 1942.
King George V class
Admiral Class
Mihoshik Said:
I guess that if they'd build three of those Admirals, they would be preceded by the King George V class which uses the old R-class turrets. While this is going on, the British get word from spies in Japan that the Yamato class is considerably more potent than expected. Unable to match the Japanese or Americans in caliber until years later, the British decide to build ships with more guns, and the Admiral class turns from four ships to three, with an increase in deck armor as well. I guess the Admirals would easily make 45,000 ton. The sheer throw weight and increase in ROF would negate at least some of the advantages of the bigger guns of the Yamato, although the British still think that Yamato will be armed with 16" rifles.
I think that works quite well. It's still going to be a bit of a shock, the Yamato, but the Admiral Class should at least have a reasonable chance of survival, with her improved armor scheme, and her vastly superior rate of fire.
And Bismarck or Tirpitz would just flat-out be doomed.