Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 51:31-53:50

The Erie class and treaty loopholes for small warships

The Erie class illustrates how treaty categories could permit lightly constrained small warships, even when the navy that promoted a category built relatively few.

Erie Class GunboatsNaval TreatiesRoyal NavySloopsUS Navy
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Question

What was distinctive about the Erie-class gunboats in the interwar treaty system?

Short answer

The Erie class fit a lightly constrained small-warship category, while the Royal Navy made much greater practical use of comparable sloop-type construction.

Notes

The Erie class was an American equivalent to contemporary sloops. It is commonly associated with a treaty provision that exempted ships in this category from tighter limits. The United States built only a few, while the Royal Navy made far greater use of comparable types. Treaty definitions could preserve or constrain future building options as much as the ships already in service.