Q&A ยท 1:21:20-1:21:51

Would a separate treaty category encourage cruiser submarines?

A hypothetical treaty allowance could encourage navies to classify fleet submarines or minelayers as cruiser submarines.

Question

What if the London Naval Treaty had included a separate category for cruiser submarines?

Short answer

Britain and the United States would probably use the category for vessels closer to large fleet submarines or minelayers, since the Royal Navy had lost enthusiasm for gun-armed cruiser submarines.

Notes

Under a hypothetical London treaty category for cruiser submarines, the Royal Navy and US Navy would probably produce vessels resembling large fleet submarines or minelayers while presenting them as cruiser submarines. Britain had already lost enthusiasm for the cruiser-submarine concept by this point. A separate category could therefore encourage classification arguments without reviving confidence in heavy-gun submarine raiders.