Britain and the United States act as deciding powers because they need the ships less than France and Italy do. One plausible settlement gives coherent Kaiser- and König-class groups to the Mediterranean powers, while Britain seeks Baden and the Derfflingers, America takes Bayern and other technical specimens, and Japan receives ships such as Kaiser and Von der Tann. The exact list remains conjectural because the historical negotiations had not finalized every assignment before the scuttling. Accepting fewer hulls lets Britain influence the wider settlement, while Japan gains designs to study rather than ships it truly needs in service. America has an additional practical reason to retain the better light cruisers because its government favored battleships and left the cruiser force short, whereas Britain can use a cruiser as bargaining currency.
Notable Point · 40:36-48:06
A plausible division of the High Seas Fleet
A reconstructed allocation gives France and Italy coherent squadrons while Britain, America, and Japan trade operational need against access to German technology.
Bayern Class BattleshipsCoalition BargainingCruiser ProcurementDerfflinger Class BattlecruisersFrench NavyGreat Power PoliticsHigh Seas FleetImperial Japanese NavyInteroperabilityItalian NavyKaiser Class BattleshipsKönig Class BattleshipsLight CruisersNaval DiplomacyNaval PrestigeRoyal NavySMS SeydlitzSMS Von der TannTechnology TransferUS NavyWar Prizes