The later treaty divided light surface vessels into three categories and barred new heavy cruisers while capping large light cruisers at 8,000 tons. Those rules arrived after Japan announced its departure from the treaty system, amid civil war in Spain and aggressive expansion in China and Africa. In this critique, unilateral example-setting could not substitute for the strength required to deny an opponent freedom of action and deter conflict. Mines and submarines can deny movement locally, but contesting wider sea control still demands enough ships to confront an opponent, tying deterrence by denial back to force strength.
Chapter · 29:38-35:00
The strategic contradiction of limiting cruisers in 1936
The 1936 treaty tightened limits on likely Allied fleets while Japan and European dictatorships were abandoning restraint.