Q&A: extra Admirals at the Washington conference

How would four Admiral-class battlecruisers have affected the Washington Naval Treaty?

They would have sharpened demands for British cancellations or carrier conversions during the treaty negotiations.

Other powers would probably react strongly if Britain arrived at the Washington negotiations with four Admiral-class battlecruisers. Their presence would sharpen pressure on Britain to surrender capital-ship tonnage. One possible compromise would be converting some of the ships into aircraft carriers. The answer is conditional because the precise result would emerge from bargaining among powers confronting a much larger British battlecruiser force.