Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 3:04:12-3:04:42

Who benefits from a 15,000-ton, 9.2-inch cruiser limit

The United States might prefer a larger 9.2-inch cruiser standard, but Britain and Japan would gain the same permission and Japanese industrial limits would shape how many ships actually appeared.

9.2-inch GunsHeavy CruisersImperial Japanese NavyNaval Industrial BaseTreaty CruisersUS NavyWashington Naval Treaty
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Question

Would the United States have been better off accepting a British cruiser limit of 15,000 tons and 9.2-inch guns?

Short answer

Possibly, but Britain and Japan would benefit too, and Japan's industrial capacity would determine whether it could exploit the larger design in equal numbers.

Notes

A 15,000-ton ceiling with 9.2-inch guns would give the United States a more powerful cruiser than the historical treaty type. The same rule would also benefit Britain and Japan, so it is not a unilateral American advantage. Japan's yards and industrial capacity might prevent it from building as many large cruisers as the paper allowance permitted. The limit changes both design possibilities and the value of each navy's ability to turn authorized tonnage into completed ships.