The Washington Naval Treaty allowed Britain to build two replacement capital ships. The replacement clause also disposes of Thunderer, King George V, Ajax, and Centurion when the new ships complete, tying construction to retirement. The displacement, gun-calibre, and total-tonnage rules define the design space rather than dictating the historical Nelson layout. This makes an F2- or F3-derived alternative a change of British priorities within the same treaty settlement.
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The Washington treaty sets the British design box
The treaty's 35,000-ton and 16-inch limits frame Britain's choice between a heavily protected Nelson and a faster capital ship.