A Washington treaty with two cruiser tiers — Bruships 147: Naval History Questions & Book Boxes Getting… at 4:15:27

A Washington treaty with two cruiser tiers

Given separate allowances for 12,000-ton 9.2-inch cruisers and 8,000-ton 6-inch ships, Britain would fill the heavy quota and build as many light cruisers as political funding allowed.

Question

How would British cruiser doctrine change if the Washington treaty allowed a limited 9.2-inch tier and a larger 6-inch tier?

Short answer

Britain would maximize the 9.2-inch allowance and then build as many 6-inch cruisers as the government was willing to fund.

Notes

The Royal Navy would exploit both categories because they serve different imperial patrol and fleet needs. Britain would fill the allowance for 12,000-ton cruisers with 9.2-inch guns. It would then build as many 8,000-ton 6-inch cruisers as the government funded. National resources were sufficient for both programmes. The limiting issue was whether ministers chose naval construction over other spending.