Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 3:12:33-3:17:08

A 25-capital-ship Washington Treaty fleet

Allowing Britain and America 25 capital ships enlarges every treaty fleet and, if replacement construction continues, preserves yards and creates a much newer battle line by 1939.

Alternate HistoryBattleshipsFrancesco Caracciolo Class BattleshipsJapanese NavyLive Q&ANaval Industrial BaseNormandie Class BattleshipsRoyal NavyUS NavyWashington Naval Treaty
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Question

What if Britain were allowed 25 capital ships under the Washington Naval Treaty?

Short answer

The larger ratios would expand all major fleets, and continued replacement building could preserve naval industry and give Britain a far newer 25-ship battle fleet by 1939.

Notes

A 25-ship British and American ceiling implies fifteen Japanese and ten French and Italian capital ships in this scenario. Japan might feel more secure with the larger absolute total despite still lacking its preferred ratio, although sustaining all fifteen in operation would be difficult. France could complete Normandie-class hulls, while Italy could finish Francesco Caracciolo-class ships. If the treaty also allowed Britain to replace five capital ships in each five-year period, regular orders would keep more shipbuilding infrastructure active. Continuing that pace from 1922 to 1939 could produce seventeen new ships, leaving eight older ships in the 25-ship fleet.