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Description
The pair of "Centurion"-class battleships were the second line of british capital ships, build after the Great War. Initially, those two warships were supposed to be just improved and faster version of previous "Nelson"-class battleships. But, during their construction,

The tactical role of aircraft carrier in the navy of 1920s was still uncertain. It was generally agreed, that carrier-based aviation would play a major role in naval combat of the future, but what role exactly? Here theories diverged; the actual combat experience of naval aviation was still unsufficient to produce the answer.

One of the problem was the interactions between the carriers and other warships. The tactical role of naval aviation in 1920s was assumed to be primarily the reconnaisance, artillery spotting, fighter cover, and only then strike operations. In view of the limited capabilites of 1920s aviation, it was almost impossible for carrier to provide effective aerial support in any other way than staying inside the fleet formation. And it mean that the possibility of carrier being engaged in surface action was pretty real.

The other part of the problem was that the carrier, acting as a part of battleline, would be seriously limited in movement by slow battleships, and also would represent the weak link - the easy target for the enemy air strikes, much less capable to endure damage than battleships that she protected.

The solution was suggested: the hybrid warships. Armed with heavy artillery, those units would be primarily the surface combatants, but they would have limited aviation capabilites. Those ships could act as close aerial support, moving in the battleline - i.e. providing aerial cover and reconnaisance - and they would also be able to act as surface combatants in battle.

The Admirality eventually approved the experiment, and two hybrid battleship-carriers were ordered in 1925.

HMS "Centurion" - laid up at "John Brown & Company", 11.08.1926. Launched 5.05.1928. Commissioned 1.10.1930.

HMS "Mars" - laid up at "Palmers Shipbuilding and Iron Company", 14.11.1926. Launched 30.04.1928. Commissioned 8.05.1931.

Description
The pair of "Centurion"-class battleships were the second line of british capital ships, build after the Great War. Initially, those two warships were supposed to be just improved and faster version of previous "Nelson"-class battleships. But, during their construction,

The tactical role of aircraft carrier in the navy of 1920s was still uncertain. It was generally agreed, that carrier-based aviation would play a major role in naval combat of the future, but what role exactly? Here theories diverged; the actual combat experience of naval aviation was still unsufficient to produce the answer.

One of the problem was the interactions between the carriers and other warships. The tactical role of naval aviation in 1920s was assumed to be primarily the reconnaisance, artillery spotting, fighter cover, and only then strike operations. In view of the limited capabilites of 1920s aviation, it was almost impossible for carrier to provide effective aerial support in any other way than staying inside the fleet formation. And it mean that the possibility of carrier being engaged in surface action was pretty real.

The other part of the problem was that the carrier, acting as a part of battleline, would be seriously limited in movement by slow battleships, and also would represent the weak link - the easy target for the enemy air strikes, much less capable to endure damage than battleships that she protected.

The solution was suggested: the hybrid warships. Armed with heavy artillery, those units would be primarily the surface combatants, but they would have limited aviation capabilites. Those ships could act as close aerial support, moving in the battleline - i.e. providing aerial cover and reconnaisance - and they would also be able to act as surface combatants in battle.

The Admirality eventually approved the experiment, and two hybrid battleship-carriers were ordered in 1925.

HMS "Centurion" - laid up at "John Brown & Company", 11.08.1926. Launched 5.05.1928. Commissioned 1.10.1930.

HMS "Mars" - laid up at "Palmers Shipbuilding and Iron Company", 14.11.1926. Launched 30.04.1928. Commissioned 8.05.1931.