Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 2:07:26-2:09:49

A treaty without the capital-ship holiday

An alternative treaty could preserve ratios by allowing each power a small number of new capital ships per multi-year period instead of stopping construction entirely.

Arms ControlCapital ShipsNaval Industrial CapacityShipbuildingWashington Naval Treaty
Watch at this timeFull video guide
Question

How could the naval treaties work if the powers rejected a complete capital-ship building holiday?

Short answer

They could allow periodic construction quotas tied to the treaty ratios, preserving both limits and shipbuilding capacity.

Notes

Small periodic building allowances could preserve the treaty ratios while avoiding a complete construction holiday. The illustrative quota is five ships each for Britain and the United States over three years, with three for Japan. France and Italy's smaller shares could be expressed over a longer period, such as seven ships in twelve years. Continuing work would preserve shipbuilding infrastructure and is judged healthier for the national economies than stopping construction. These numbers illustrate a possible arrangement rather than an agreed treaty schedule.