How would Argentina and Brazil respond if Chile ordered two Vanguard-class battleships before the Second World War?
Short answerThey would seek counter-orders if they could afford them, but the most likely wartime outcome is British requisition of the Chilean ships before delivery.
NotesArgentina and Brazil would face pressure to finance comparable ships or accept a major shift in the regional balance. Yet a Chilean Vanguard derivative could only follow British design work and construction capacity, placing its building schedule on the eve of the Second World War. Under those conditions Britain would probably requisition the ships for its own war effort before Chile received them.