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The two Reprisal class ships were laid down in 1916 and 1917. Having the triple 16" turret from the Retribution class, the only way to build a better ship was to have four triple turrets of 16"or twin 18". To go to 18" would have required the starting of a whole new weapon proving process and a new design for the twin turrets to carry them. Not a quick or easy process. It was by far the easiest and quickest to use the existing triple turret. The only change made was to go from 45 caliber to 50 caliber guns to raise the range. It was finally decided to get rid of the casemates once and for all and follow the twin turret used in the Glorious Class. While the previous two classes were large ships, Panagaea had been made aware of the Royal Navies Majestic Class plans and this lead to the laying down of the two Reprisal class to go with the four RN Majestic class.
Where the Retribution class had been large ships, the Reprisal class was to be truly huge. They would have been eclipsed by the RN's post war 16" and 18" designs had they been allowed to be completed. The Japanese (Tosa and Amagi) and the American giants would have been similar sizes as well. The Reprisal was 80% built at wars end, its sister Formidable only 40%. The double shift work on Reprisal continued and it was completed February 1920. The Formidable was to be repurposed as the new type of ship 'Aircraft Carrier'. The various Treaties are signed in the 1920's and Panagaea fought for the survival of the Reprisal. To really be within the treaty limits the ship should have been less than 40,000 tons standard. For Panagaea to keep its Queen of the Seas the Commonwealth had to make concessions to other navies.
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Like the Retribution and Implacable, the Reprisal missed out on a full rebuild. What was on board at the start of 1940 was what it fought most of the war with. Electronics were continually updated from refit to refit. 20mm were added in every nook and cranny then removed again, the 2 pounders as well, and all replaced with 40mm weapons. 1942-43 radar predictors for the 2 pounders and 40mm were added to enhance the knockdown capabilities of the weapons.
