How fast French and Italian ships could reshape Britain's treaty fleet

How would French Lions and Italian Francesco Caracciolos affect British treaty construction and modernization?

Britain would likely seek four faster treaty battleships and prioritize speed upgrades across more of the Queen Elizabeth class.

If France and Italy retain fast capital ships, Britain can argue that two Nelsons are not enough to protect its Mediterranean position. Pressure would grow for four new ships, either faster Nelson-type designs or an F3-derived alternative. Nelson and Rodney had unused treaty margin, and additional shaft power could plausibly push a revised design toward 28 knots. The same threat would redirect modernization money toward bringing more Queen Elizabeths to about 28 knots, potentially at the expense of Royal Oak or even parts of Renown's programme. A more generous treaty ratio could expand the effect further, sustaining a seven-ship British building programme through the 1920s.