The treaties damaged both the industrial rhythm that kept British ship prices competitive and the reserve structure that normally absorbed older capital ships. An alternative allowance with separate active and reserve tonnage for Britain and the United States could retain ships including Tiger, Lion, the Iron Dukes, and the 1911 King George V class for convoy or secondary duties. Modern battleships would then remain available for the main opponent while older ships supplied the depth that treaty scrapping removed.
Chapter · 2:21:48-2:25:54
Naval treaties remove construction continuity and reserve depth
Interwar treaty limits stopped continuous building and prevented Britain and America from retaining the capital-ship reserves their earlier fleet systems expected.