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1935 and all the treaty restrictions for signatories lapse and you can build what you want. This would be the round of battleship building that would fight the Second World War. Once the war started, countries like Panagaea, would no longer be able to put its resources to big ship construction, destroyers and escorts would take over the building programs. Only aircraft carriers would escape the small ship dominance. So what does Panagaea do for its last four battleships. The first pair are to be laid down in 1935 for completion in 1939-40, the second pair are laid down a year later with completion in 1940-41. Will they be heavily armed (12x16) with moderate speed (27-28) knots of about 45,000 tons. Or will they be more faster battleship with speeds out to 32-33 knots and retain the 9x16" armament, these would again be out to 45k tons. Panagaea has had experience with both types previously in the Retribution/Reprisal classes. One thing that could sway the argument is that both the Sapphire and Paladin class aircraft carriers are designed to make 32 knots. It would be nice to have capital ships that could keep up. To make the Reliance design go to 32 knots would require over ten thousand tons of improvements. Most of the extra tonnage would go in making the hull longer and finer to take the new machinery to get the hull to go 32 knots.
The end result was a ship 80 foot longer than the Reliance class, all of which was taken up with the larger machinery systems. The jump to 180,000shp for the 32 knot speed was huge. The engines required to convert the steam from the boilers to that horsepower were far larger than anything built till that time. They were eclipsed only a year or so later by the Iowa class that could make 33 knots on their 200,000shp powerplant. Everything about the ships was impressive. The number of 4.5" turrets increased to thirteen, the light AA armament was truly impressive with over 90 barrels. But it was the electronic outfit that made the ships truly potent. Air and sea search radars then the gun directors all had radar assistance for targeting, and for air attack the 2 pounder mountings had radar predictors. Come close to these beasts and get your arse kicked. Which sounds good till they come up against the Japanese and German giants. At which point they can be very glad their targeting systems are better.
The ships were continually improved through to the 1944 major refits when the all of the old AA weaponry was removed and replaced with a uniform armament of twin 40mm Bofors. The aircraft handling facilities were removed and extra ships boats were placed there, with extra accommodation and AA weapons. Upgraded search radars and command and control functions improved their capabilities further. They made the perfect flagships.
