A 10,000-ton ceiling would settle too quickly into a standard form for Tillman's political purpose, whereas two extra thousand tons invite competing tradeoffs and continued orders. British County-class and American Pensacola-class successors could carry twelve 8-inch guns in triple turrets while also finding room for useful armor. The added displacement would not require a wholly new industrial capability from treaty signatories, so each major navy could participate in the qualitative competition. Germany, constrained by Versailles to much smaller cruisers and 10,000-ton capital ships, would face an even greater disparity. Charleston would likely need some improvement, but the enlarged cruiser remained a more realistic and repeatable yard product than a battleship.
Chapter · 1:17:36-1:21:35
A 12,000-ton cruiser ceiling sustains competition
Raising the cruiser limit to 12,000 tons creates room for triple turrets, armor, and recurring qualitative competition while leaving Germany far behind.