If Britain had three Renown-class battlecruisers, would Hood still survive the Washington Naval Treaty?
Short answerProbably long enough to be claimed for treaty tonnage, because paper strength could matter even when a ship's operational future was doubtful.
NotesThe hypothetical asks whether an additional Renown-class battlecruiser would make Hood expendable under the Washington settlement. Hood would probably remain long enough for Britain to claim her tonnage in the negotiations. The Royal Navy sometimes kept ships alive on paper because their treaty accounting value mattered even when long-term operational retention was doubtful. Arms-control arithmetic could prolong a ship's nominal status independently of immediate fleet utility.