After the First World War, politicians sought to avoid another war, reduce weapons spending and support domestic reconstruction, with reelection also part of the calculation. Cumulative treaty limits forced navies to choose between numerous modest ships and fewer individually powerful ones. Chatfield's proposed solution sought international ceilings around 20,000 to 25,000 tons for capital ships and 17,000 to 22,000 tons for carriers, preferably lower still. Britain's larger allowance could then produce more hulls for worldwide duties. The strategy depended on other navies accepting those ceilings and on treaty diplomacy preventing the appearance of substantially larger competitors.
Chapter · 43:57-46:39
Chatfield's treaty strategy favored many small carriers
First Sea Lord Ernle Chatfield sought international limits low enough for Britain to exploit its larger allowance through greater numbers of smaller capital ships and carriers.