Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 1:02:22-1:02:44

Treaty alternatives for Lexington, G3, and Amagi

A treaty counterfactual links American Lexington battlecruisers to possible British G3s and Japanese Amagi successors.

Amagi Class BattlecruisersG3 Class BattlecruisersJapanese NavyLexington Class BattlecruisersWashington Naval Treaty
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Question

How might Japan respond if the United States retained four Lexington battlecruisers?

Short answer

Britain would likely seek four G3s, and Japan would probably pursue comparable Amagi- or Kii-type ships rather than accept the imbalance.

Notes

Reciprocal fleet politics drives the counterfactual: if the United States retained four Lexingtons, Britain would likely press for four G3s. Japan would then resist accepting a force structure in which both competitors possessed new fast capital ships. Amagi- or Kii-type construction would offer a route to restoring the balance, probably at the expense of retaining the older Kongos. One treaty concession could therefore trigger linked demands across American, British, and Japanese programmes.