The proposed 15-inch limit makes battlecruisers visibly subordinate to 16-inch-gun battleships and therefore easier for American politicians to accept. Britain already possessed a mature 15-inch-gun tradition, Japan could retain its 14-inch-gun Kongos, and only the Lexington program required a difficult redesign or concession. The scheme pairs that distinction with a 42,000-ton standard-displacement ceiling for battlecruisers. The carrier limit falls to 28,000 tons, with faster ships needed to operate alongside a much larger high-speed capital fleet. The evenly spaced 28,000-, 35,000-, and 42,000-ton categories create a simple treaty hierarchy with different operational purposes.
Notable Point · 16:24-18:41
A 15-inch compromise and faster carriers
Limiting battlecruisers to 15-inch guns separates them from battleships, while a 28,000-ton carrier ceiling supports faster aviation ships in the enlarged fast fleet.