HMS Prince of Wales

Built to defend Britain in the war that was clearly coming, the King George V-class of battleships compromised their main armaments, which were reduced to 14-inch guns, to fulfil treaty obligations. However, by mounting ten of them, the HMS King George V could pack a fearsome punch. It was also very fast for such a well armoured ship. The King George V served successfully in many campaigns, including the invasions of Sicily and Italy and finished the war in the Pacific fleet. The HMS Prince of Wales was deployed with the HMS Repulse along the Malayan Coast, where it was sunk by Japanese aircraft.