A 1949 design of a battleship with enhanced firepower, created based on the experience of the British shipbuilding of the World War II period. The main feature of the design, the 457 mm main battery, was developed in the beginning of the 1920s, and they were the most powerful British shipborne artillery systems.

The last British battleship designed and laid down before the World War II. She was in many ways a development of the King George V class ships, from which she differed by the increased size, the strengthened armour, and the newest 406 mm guns as the main battery artillery.

A design based on King George V-class battleship. It was equipped with more advanced AA weapons.

The lead ship of the new generation battleship line for the Royal Navy. She was significantly superior to her predecessors in terms of armour and AA defence power. Due to the international restrictions on armament, the battleships’ guns had a relatively small caliber of 356 mm.