Q&A ยท 1:51:12-1:53:13

How might the High Seas Fleet have been divided?

Without the scuttling, German capital ships could have reinforced several Allied navies and transferred design lessons as well as hulls.

Question

What was the most likely division of the High Seas Fleet if it had not been scuttled?

Short answer

Its ships would probably have been divided among the major Allied navies, strengthening their fleets and giving them access to German design features.

Notes

An approximately five-way division among Britain, the United States, France, Italy, and another Allied share is suggested as an estimate rather than a settled allocation. France wanted replacements for pre-dreadnoughts, Italy sought compensation, and the United States also had an interest in the ships. Britain feared both the altered balance of numbers and the chance that rivals would combine German strengths with lessons from their own designs. Captured warships represented technical intelligence and the start of a potential naval race, rather than merely prizes to be counted.