How the London Naval Treaty defined little ships

Articles 8 and 15 of the 1930 London Naval Treaty set the tonnage and armament tests for small warships. Article 8 left Britain room to build ocean-going escorts for minesweeping and anti-submarine work because it did not count depth charges or minesweeping gear among the limiting equipment. Article 15 also helps explain why destroyers clustered below 1,850 tons and used guns under the 5.1-inch threshold. American concern about how Britain might exploit the exemptions helps explain why Article 8 is so detailed. The categories were negotiated rules shaped by national requirements, especially Britain's need for large numbers of escorts.