Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 47:48-49:51

A delayed Washington treaty could leave G3s afloat

Delaying the Washington Naval Conference by a year could put British G3 hulls too far along to cancel and force a treaty of special exceptions.

Aircraft CarriersG3 Class BattlecruisersNaval Arms ControlRoyal NavyWashington Naval Treaty
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Question

What if the Washington Naval Treaty were delayed by one year?

Short answer

Partly completed G3s and comparable foreign ships could survive as exceptions, forcing a different and much more contentious treaty settlement.

Notes

The likely outcome is not an unchanged treaty but bargaining over partly completed British, American, and Japanese ships. Britain might complete some G3s and convert others, while later carrier and capital-ship choices become harder to reconcile with the historical limits. Equivalent exceptions for American South Dakotas and Japanese projects would make the settlement more contentious for every signatory. The episode shows how construction timing can reshape arms-control diplomacy.