Q&A · 1:23:17-1:23:38

Rearming US standard battleships would pressure treaty rivals

A battleship-rearmament scenario gives older US ships new 16-inch guns and asks about the consequences.

Question

What if US standard battleships received new 16-inch guns?

Short answer

Britain and Japan would respond, and the treaty system would face additional pressure.

Notes

Britain and Japan would resist leaving Nelson and Rodney as Britain's only 16-inch ships while American standards gained the caliber. The change would feed back into treaty bargaining and other navies' armament choices.