N3 designs could be adapted to a lower gun limit by replacing their planned 18-inch weapons with 16.5-inch guns and using the smaller shells, hoists, and turrets to reduce declared displacement. Britain might plausibly present a roughly 48,500-ton design as compliant with a 45,000-ton ceiling after those changes. Without cumulative tonnage restrictions, Italy has a strong incentive to complete the Francesco Caracciolo class rather than abandon it. Those ships would erase French qualitative gains and introduce a fast-battleship model that accelerates competition across Europe.
Notable Point · 57:09-59:25
N3 and Caracciolo ships transform the building race
A late treaty may find British N3s under construction and Italy completing the Francesco Caracciolo class as early fast battleships.