The Washington settlement allowed Britain two new capital ships with guns no larger than 16 inches, but 35,000 tons sat well below the G3 and N3 studies. Bringing the new ships into service also allowed several older capital ships to leave the active battle line. A fifteen-ship allowance could not form two complete eight-ship battle squadrons, so each new hull carried unusual force-structure weight. Designers had to cut roughly 7,000 to 14,000 tons from the scale of Britain's latest studies. Britain's experienced constructors could explore many configurations, but every answer sacrificed speed, armour, firepower, or some combination of them.
Chapter · 18:39-24:36
The Washington Treaty squeezes Britain's battle line
A 35,000-ton ceiling and a fifteen-ship allowance pushed Britain toward two imposing battleships drawn from a much larger pre-treaty design tradition.