Q&A · 2:17:25-2:18:27

Would a successful Dardanelles forcing change treaty policy?

A proven use for capital ships in forcing straits could make post-war limits and the Royal Navy's global force posture more difficult to settle.

Question

If Beatty forced the Dardanelles with battleships, would the Royal Navy still accept treaty limits on capital ships?

Short answer

It could make treaty limits harder to accept, because a successful forcing operation would strengthen the perceived value of capital ships around the world.

Notes

A successful naval assault on the Dardanelles would give older battleships a demonstrated role in forcing defended straits. That record could make restrictions on capital ships harder for Britain to accept. Successful battlecruiser operations at Cape Matapan and Coronel would separately strengthen demand for a worldwide capital-ship presence. These alternative wartime experiences could therefore complicate the political and strategic case for the Washington treaty system.