Britain and the United States can use construction as leverage while Russia delays agreement in pursuit of higher status. Once G3-type ships enter service, a treaty can no longer credibly impose the historical 35,000-ton and 16-inch limits. The proposed G3 weapon is treated as a 16.5-inch gun, separate from the 16-inch gun later fitted to Nelson and Rodney, and may have been closer to a scaled-up British 15-inch design. The resulting ceiling would reflect the larger ships and weapons already completed or too advanced to cancel.
Chapter · 47:11-49:57
G3 construction raises the treaty ceiling
Delayed negotiations allow Britain and America to keep building, making roughly 45,000 to 50,000 tons and 16.5-inch guns plausible capital-ship limits.