Article 8's exempt-vessel rules

Article 8 distinguishes minor combatants and fleet auxiliaries from limited warships. Vessels at or below 600 tons were exempt, while those up to 2,000 tons had to avoid features that made them too capable. The treaty covered design intent as well as fitted equipment, especially for torpedoes, speed, armour, mines, aircraft facilities, and guns above the three-inch and 6.1-inch thresholds. Those detailed exclusions created the legal space in which sloops and motor torpedo boats could exist without simply becoming uncounted cruisers.