Q&A ยท 58:18-1:00:08

How different Washington Treaty retentions reshape the Royal Navy

A different treaty retention scenario could lead Britain to exchange seven older capital ships for two or three F3-type battlecruisers.

Question

If Britain retained extra King George V, Iron Duke and Tiger-class ships at Washington, how many would survive the first London treaty?

Short answer

Britain would probably bargain to scrap seven older ships in return for two or three F3-type battlecruisers, producing a projected eighteen-ship capital force.

Notes

The scenario retains extra King George V- and Iron Duke-class battleships and Tigers under the Washington settlement, then asks which would survive the first London treaty. Britain would probably bargain to scrap seven older ships in exchange for permission to build three new ones. F3-type battlecruisers are the proposed replacement, with at least two and probably three envisaged alongside the Nelsons. The resulting projection is six battlecruisers and twelve battleships. The F3 is described as close to a fast battleship, although the preferred label remains a fully armoured battlecruiser.