Japan's proposed three-ship allowance raises the question of which existing battleships to replace. The likely candidates are the two Fusos and one Ise-class ship, whose roughly 23-knot speed leaves them behind the new fast ships. The Kongos offer more scope for further development and would therefore be stronger candidates for retention. This is a proposed replacement sequence within the counterfactual treaty settlement.
Notable Point · 1:59:19-2:00:24
Japan could replace Fuso and Ise while retaining Kongo
Three permitted replacements would favor retiring slower Fuso- and Ise-class ships while preserving the Kongos' greater development potential.