1946 Lion Class Battleship

[Thorvic]

Most of you may be aware that the follow on for the pre-ww2 King George V battleship class was the Lion class (HMS Vanguard was an added bonus using the surplus turrets from the Glorious class battlecruiser to aircraft carrier conversion).
The Lion class were intended to be similar to the KGV class but with new triple 16 inch gun turrets instead of the 14 inch guns on KGV, so apart from being slightly larger and having a transom stern (flat rather than pointed) the design was virtually the same as KGV.
However by 1945 the design was reviewed in light of the experience of WW2 and the switch of sea power to airpower. To this end the Lion class design was radically changed in layout, with only the fwd main guns retained and the secondary and tertiary armament being AA focused around a core citadel superstructure. The secondary battery consisted of the new 4.5 MKVI twin automatic guns (as used by most RN Destroyers & Frigates postwar - Daring, Leander, County etc) controlled by radar directors. The Tertiary battery consisted of the sextuplet 40mm bofors again controlled by their own radar sights replacing all previous AA guns familiar in WW2 battleships. The layout is similar to the French battleships but without the cruiser guns of the pre WW2 era.

The model was based upon a Trumpeter Jean Bart hull, modified with step in the deck removed and the stern rebuilt into a transom style. Main guns are from a Tamiya Nelson modified to suit the updated model, the superstructure is scratch built and the rest of the armament and directors from Fujimi Ark Royal kits and Pitroad NATO weapon sprues.
The photo shows the model primed, the white bits amidships being where the boat rests were fitted after the primmer coat. The clutter in front is the various guns and directors that will be painted and fitted after the ship has been painted.

[NARSES2]

 

[lancer]

Awsome....

[ysi_maniac]

What if HMS Vanguard had the RIGHT turrets (in the HMS Lion way)?