Without the Washington settlement, Britain is expected to continue its planned G3 battlecruisers and N3 battleships. The N3s provide the 18-inch battleship element. G3s might retain a 16.5-inch option if treaty expectations no longer encourage a reduction to 16 inches. Dry-dock constraints remain part of that decision. A 16.5-inch/45-calibre weapon is compared with a 16-inch/50 as a closer equivalent than a 16-inch/45 would be.
Notable Point · 1:38:12-1:39:30
G3 and N3 armament without the treaty settlement
The design discussion connects dockyard limits and treaty expectations with the G3's choice of gun calibre.