Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 2:08:22-2:10:19

A larger Hawkins class rewrites treaty categories

A 14,000-16,000-ton Hawkins class with 9.2-inch guns would push treaty cruiser, carrier, and capital-ship thresholds upward.

Aircraft CarriersCapital ShipsCruisersHawkins Class Heavy CruisersWashington Naval Treaty
Watch at this timeFull video guide
Question

How would a 14,000-16,000-ton Hawkins class with eight 9.2-inch guns affect the Washington Naval Treaty?

Short answer

It would likely raise the cruiser threshold and force corresponding changes to carrier and capital-ship limits.

Notes

Treaty definitions were anchored partly in the ships already in existence, so a much larger Hawkins would normalize a higher cruiser ceiling. Carrier exclusions and limits would then need adjustment, while capital-ship tonnage might also rise to preserve separation between categories. The counterfactual demonstrates how a single influential class could reshape the numerical architecture of arms control.