The British Nelson-class battleships, consisting of HMS Nelson and HMS Rodney, were among the most innovative warships of their time. Designed in the 1920s under the constraints of the Washington Naval Treaty, these ships featured a radical layout with all three of their main gun turrets mounted forward of the superstructure. This design allowed for efficient armor distribution but raised questions about how the ships could protect their stern during combat. Despite these concerns, the Nelson-class incorporated several measures to mitigate vulnerabilities and maintain their combat effectiveness.
Design and Armament Layout
The decision to place all nine 16-inch (406 mm) guns forward in three triple turrets was primarily driven by weight-saving requirements. By concentrating the armament in a single area, designers reduced the amount of armor needed to protect the magazines and gun mechanisms, freeing up weight for thicker overall armor. However, this unique arrangement left the stern without direct firepower from the main guns.
To address this limitation, the Nelson-class battleships were designed with several compensatory features:
Secondary Armament
The Nelson-class ships were equipped with 6-inch (152 mm) secondary guns mounted in twin turrets, distributed along the ship's sides. These guns had wide arcs of fire and could cover the stern effectively against smaller ships, destroyers, and torpedo boats. While they lacked the raw power of the main guns, these secondaries were sufficient for dealing with threats approaching from the rear.
Anti-Aircraft Defenses
As naval warfare evolved, air power became a significant concern. To address aerial threats, the Nelson-class ships were heavily armed with anti-aircraft weapons, including 40 mm Bofors and 20 mm Oerlikon guns. These weapons were strategically placed to provide overlapping fields of fire, including comprehensive coverage of the stern. This ensured that aircraft attacking from the rear would face significant resistance.
Armor Protection
One of the defining features of the Nelson-class battleships was their “all-or-nothing” armor scheme. Vital areas such as the magazines, engines, and main gun turrets were heavily protected, while less critical areas were left unarmored. The ships' sterns were not as heavily armored as their midsections, but they were designed with sufficient structural reinforcement to withstand moderate damage.
Additionally, the Nelson-class featured torpedo bulges and an internal compartmentalization system to protect against underwater attacks. These defenses extended to the stern, ensuring some degree of protection against torpedoes and mines.