A modified treaty could preserve battleship-building skills

Could the Washington Naval Treaty have limited fleets without imposing a ten-year battleship holiday?

Yes; a low-rate replacement cycle under firm tonnage ceilings could restrain fleet size while keeping yards and design teams active.

Britain and the United States could each retain roughly twenty capital ships and Japan fourteen, with each navy replacing a pair on a regular cycle. A pair every two years would renew a fleet over about two decades. The steady orders would preserve design and construction expertise. This form of arms control limits total strength while keeping the industrial base active.