How Articles 14-16 classified and limited fleets

Article 14 brought naval combatants under Part III, excluding capital ships, aircraft carriers, exempt vessels, and special vessels. Article 15 classified ships over 1,850 tons, or ships with guns above 5.1 inches, as cruisers and then divided cruisers at the 6.1-inch gun threshold. Article 16 set separate heavy-cruiser, light-cruiser, destroyer, and submarine allowances for the United States, British Commonwealth, and Japan through 1936. Heavy-cruiser numbers were capped at eighteen, fifteen, and twelve respectively. Surplus tonnage had to be disposed of gradually, and only 16 percent of destroyer tonnage could be held in ships above 1,500 tons. Existing excess ships could remain, but further large destroyers were barred until the fleet met that percentage. Aircraft landing platforms or decks were limited to 25 percent of each power's allowed cruiser tonnage.