The exercise is limited to choices that a British officer after the First World War could plausibly influence. That officer must work inside British politics and the naval treaties rather than rewrite either of them. Hiding a capital ship is implausible because few ports could accommodate one and an active press would make twenty years of secrecy unlikely. The question is which smaller capabilities could be preserved discreetly and returned to service without creating an obvious treaty breach.
Chapter · 5:45-7:30
Setting realistic limits for an interwar reserve
The counterfactual starts with an officer who must work within British politics, treaty scrutiny, and practical secrecy rather than simply hide a battle fleet.