Notable Point · 16:31-17:15

Why 10,000 tons also became the cruiser ceiling

The cruiser limit reflected fears that rivals might build powerful ships capable of supporting the battle line, although Jutland had made Britain wary of second-line ships in that role.

Battle Of Jutland Cruiser Design Cruiser Doctrine Cruiser Tonnage Hawkins Class Heavy Cruisers Heavy Cruisers Imperial Japanese Navy Interwar Naval Arms Race Line Of Battle Naval Arms Control Royal Navy Treaty Cruisers US Navy Washington Naval Treaty World War I

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Notes

The 10,000-ton figure drew on the size of the Hawkins class and competing views of what cruisers might do in a fleet action. American and Japanese planners feared that the other side could use the allowance to produce cruisers strong enough to support the battle line. The Royal Navy approached that prospect with less enthusiasm after seeing what happened to second-line ships at Jutland. The same displacement ceiling restrained cruiser competition while inviting carrier experiments designed to fall just below it.