Keeping Lexington-class battlecruisers at Washington

Could the United States trade older battleships for two Lexington-class battlecruisers during the Washington talks?

Possibly, but Britain would likely demand additional 16-inch capital ships in response, changing the resulting Nelson-class program.

A two-for-two exchange could be worthwhile and negotiable. The balance would not remain bilateral: Britain would likely seek a third or fourth 16-inch ship, perhaps using a faster F3-derived design instead of the historical Nelson arrangement. The American gain would therefore alter the treaty's wider capital-ship bargain rather than simply substitute two hulls. A faster British response around 28 knots could change both fleet composition and the distinction between battleships and battlecruisers.