Modern democratic battleships would add hulls and force Germany to design against a newer and stronger potential enemy fleet. Prestige and Hitler's expectations would push German requirements upward, increasing the strain on limited maritime infrastructure. The treaty could channel that pressure by admitting Germany at a two-share ratio, allowing four 35,000-ton ships against twenty British ships.
Notable Point · 54:40-56:30
New Allied battleships as an industrial deterrent
Continuous Allied construction raises the technical benchmark Germany must meet with a much smaller maritime industrial base.