Q&A · 4:13:05-4:13:26

Why cruiser treaty limits started with Hawkins

Existing cruiser construction supplied the starting point for the treaty limit.

9.2-inch Guns Hawkins Class Heavy Cruisers Washington Naval Treaty

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Question

Why did treaty negotiators not start with a larger 9.2-inch cruiser limit?

Short answer

They based the limit on existing ships, with Hawkins the most recent cruiser class.

Notes

The treaty discussion used ships already built as its baseline. Hawkins was the most recent cruiser class and therefore shaped that starting point. A larger hypothetical 9.2-inch cruiser was not the example on which the limit was based.