A delayed Washington treaty opens the way to 9.2-inch cruisers

How might delayed Washington treaty negotiations affect British cruiser and capital-ship development?

Britain could field 9.2-inch Hawkins successors and other large projects before limits were fixed, producing a very different treaty settlement.

The next British cruiser requirement sat above the smaller armored-cruiser range because useful ocean-going capability demanded size. If the Washington negotiations slipped into 1925 or 1926, Britain might complete successors to the Hawkins class with 9.2-inch guns. The same delay could leave G3s, N3s, American capital ships, and perhaps an Admiral-class carrier conversion in service. Treaty categories and limits would then be negotiated around a markedly different collection of existing ships.