Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 2:42:54-2:43:35

How dividing the High Seas Fleet could reshape naval treaties

German capital ships transferred to the victors would raise foreign totals and probably push Britain toward a larger allowance of new 16-inch warships.

Battle Of Cape SpartiventoBayern Class BattleshipsCapital ShipsCounterfactual HistoryG3 Class BattlecruisersGerman High Seas FleetNaval Arms RaceWashington Naval Treaty
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Question

What might happen to the naval treaties if the German High Seas Fleet were divided among the victors?

Short answer

Britain would probably seek a larger allowance and build three or four new 16-inch capital ships rather than accepting only two.

Notes

Dividing the High Seas Fleet would change the force ratios behind later naval limitation talks. Britain would probably demand more and larger 16-inch ships rather than accept the historical allowance. The proposed response is three or four new ships instead of two, spread across roughly four years so that no more than two were built in a two-year period. One possible result is an Italian Bayern at Cape Spartivento facing British G3 battlecruisers that were never built in reality. Redistributing existing hulls could trigger new construction rather than simply reallocating a fixed postwar fleet.