Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 24:55-25:25

What a ship-count treaty would incentivize

Limiting capital-ship numbers without limiting displacement or guns would reward enormous N3-style battleships rather than restraint.

BattleshipsN3 Class BattleshipsNaval TreatiesWashington Naval Treaty
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Question

What if the Washington and London treaties limited ship numbers but not tonnage or guns?

Short answer

Navies would maximize each allowed hull, making N3-style 18-inch battleships and still larger successors likely.

Notes

A numerical cap makes each permitted hull more valuable. Without tonnage or gun limits, the Royal Navy could revive the N3 concept and its 18-inch armament. Infrastructure upgrades would then support an even larger follow-on generation. Treaty wording can redirect competition instead of suppressing it.