Renewed capital-ship building would also raise pressure to expand carrier tonnage because Britain and the United States wanted more flight decks. A separate alternative would distinguish battleships and battlecruisers in the treaty quotas. The suggested totals are fifteen battleships and five battlecruisers each for Britain and the United States, nine and three for Japan, and six and two each for France and Italy. That arrangement could favor Britain: it would gain room for new battleships while the United States used its allowance to fill a fast-ship deficit. A general capital-ship building allowance is consequently favored within the scenario because separate categories would give the two navies different benefits.
Chapter · 1:24:02-1:26:31
Renewed battleship building would force a new carrier bargain
Britain and the United States would want more carrier tonnage, but separating battleships and battlecruisers into different quotas could distribute useful construction rights unevenly.