The Admiral-class projects had become convoluted and were already being abandoned as the more credible G3 programme began. At least two G3s, and perhaps all four, could have become aircraft carriers under a different Washington settlement. Similar permissions might lead the United States and Japan to convert more large hulls, while Japan could eventually build a purpose-designed carrier after gaining operational experience. Removing the heavy main-armament turrets would leave a carrier near Lexington and Saratoga in size. A treaty ceiling around 33,000 to 36,000 tons might then follow the ships that the powers actually operated. Britain also had meaningful influence at Washington and negotiated the historical settlement with considerable success. This counterfactual connects unfinished capital ships to later carrier force structure and treaty standards.
Notable Point · 9:24-12:18
G3 conversions and a larger treaty carrier norm
Keeping the G3 programme alive could have produced several British carrier conversions and made fleet carriers near Lexington and Saratoga in size a more common treaty standard.
Admiral Class BattlecruisersAircraft CarriersCarrier ConversionsCarrier DesignCarrier DisplacementFleet CarriersG3 Class BattlecruisersImperial Japanese NavyLexington Class Aircraft CarriersNaval Arms ControlNaval Treaty NegotiationsRoyal NavyUS NavyUSS Lexington (CV-2)USS Saratoga (CV-3)Washington Naval Treaty