Technical feasibility and treaty permission were separate questions. The reconstruction rules permitted bulges, blisters, anti-aircraft deck protection, and up to 3,000 tons of defensive additions. They generally barred changes to side armor and to the caliber, number, or general mounting type of a retained capital ship's main armament. France and Italy could increase armor protection and gun caliber within the stated allowance, up to the 16-inch limit. Britain's named Renown exception covered armor alterations already begun and temporarily suspended. Tiger could remain below the 35,000-ton standard-displacement ceiling and 16-inch gun limit after a substantial rebuild, yet the specific main-armament prohibition still blocked her conversion. A comparable exception would therefore have needed to be negotiated for Tiger.
Chapter · 11:00-14:08
Washington treaty rules block the historical Tiger gun change
Tiger fits the treaty's broad tonnage and caliber ceilings, but the reconstruction clause forbids changing her main-gun caliber or mounting type.