Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 31:32-32:40

Would Lexington battlecruisers trigger a naval race?

A treaty-era question asks whether completing the large Lexington battlecruisers would provoke a new construction race.

G3 Class BattlecruisersLexington Class BattlecruisersNaval ProcurementWashington Naval Treaty
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Question

Would completing the 55,000-ton Lexington battlecruiser design have ignited a new naval race?

Short answer

Probably not by itself, but Britain would likely have answered with the G3s, escalating the capital-ship competition that the Washington treaty halted.

Notes

The United States could have completed the Lexington battlecruisers, but Britain would likely have answered with the more powerful G3 design. Lexington would therefore change the next British construction decision rather than settle the competition. Each navy's new ships would strengthen the other's case for a larger reply. The Washington Naval Treaty stopped that escalating cycle before the designs became completed fleets.