HMS Bridgewater and Article 8's exemptions

HMS Bridgewater was a 1,045-ton sloop that spent much of the Second World War on ocean convoys and could have been built in far greater numbers. Article 8 provided two combatant exemptions: vessels of 600 tons or less and larger ships up to 2,000 tons that stayed within gun, torpedo, and speed restrictions. The larger combatants could not mount guns above 6.1 inches, carry more than four guns above three inches, launch torpedoes, or be designed for more than 20 knots. Separate rules covered naval auxiliaries not employed as fighting ships and restricted armor, mines, and aircraft facilities. The exemption therefore covered a broad class of small or slow vessels that could be built without a national tonnage ceiling.