Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 1:24:47-1:25:05

The First London Naval Treaty said little about seaplane carriers

The First London Naval Treaty left seaplane-carrier categories ambiguous enough for conversion-ready designs.

First London Naval Treaty (1930)Naval Arms ControlSeaplane Carriers
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Question

What did the First London Naval Treaty say about seaplane carriers?

Short answer

Very little. The vessels were included in treaty categories but were not yet treated in the same conceptual way as aircraft carriers.

Notes

The First London Naval Treaty included seaplane carriers without treating them conceptually like conventional aircraft carriers. Their legal category therefore remained limited and indistinct. That ambiguity left room for designs which complied in their initial form while retaining useful conversion potential. The Royal Navy also examined seaplane-carrier arrangements that could become more capable aircraft carriers.