How many generations of 50,000-, 60,000-, and 70,000-ton British capital ships might appear without treaties?
Short answerWith a new class about every two years and a displacement jump every three generations, Britain could pass through roughly three major size bands before 1939.
NotesStarting with the G3 around the lower end of the 50,000-ton band, the timeline moves through design transitions around 1926, 1931, and 1932 onward. Repeated small batches allow trials and refinements before each larger displacement step. By 1939 the Royal Navy could possess several distinct generations rather than one treaty-constrained design family.