A comparison of the Washington and London rules with the capital-ship tonnage Britain actually retained exposes a large gap. The Royal Navy stood at about 428,000 tons against a 525,000-ton allowance, leaving roughly 96,000 tons of clear capacity. An earlier agreed figure produces an even larger difference, sufficient for several modern capital ships depending on their exact displacement. The tables challenge the idea that formal permission alone preserved British strength: the navy never came close to using what the treaty allowed.
Chapter · 35:29-41:40
The Royal Navy fell far below its treaty tonnage
Tonnage tables leave Britain nearly 100,000 tons below one agreed allowance, enough unused capacity for at least two additional 35,000-ton ships.