Two early battleships as industrial insurance

If construction were permitted in 1930, Britain's tonnage margin after the agreed disposals could accommodate two more 35,000-ton capital ships without additional scrapping. These ships could be fully worked up before the Second World War while sustaining the specialist industry needed for later construction. The suggested design is a faster Nelson-like battleship, probably capable of about 28 knots. Sixteen-inch guns appear the likely choice because Britain already had them, although a 15-inch design remains possible. Allowing Britain, the United States, and Japan to begin two ships each would also keep construction visible within the treaty system. For Japan, permission to build under disclosure rules is intended to reduce the attraction of secret construction.