On 03Oct2020 1434, Thomas RUX wrote:
> The UK dreadnaught hulls were built before the treaties were technically not new builds or counted against the tonnage count since they were laid up on the slip ways or in a graving dry dock or moored some place waiting for completion which from my take they were bending but not breaking the requirements.
The Washington treaty was very detailed about which ships were to be
kept and which were to be scrapped, and by when. They allowed some minor
battleship construction (HMS Nelson and Rodney being the major examples)
for navies that were under strength (France, and Italy at various times)
or (in the UK's case) who needed to replace ships because they were
utterly worn out and old. Some conversions to aircraft carriers were
also permitted, and as they were of battlecruiser hulls arguably this
clause is what resulted in carriers dominating the Pacific part of WWII.

The naval treaties were actually quite effective at keep warships down
to a reasonable size, and holding down naval budgets for 15-odd years.

--

Rupert Boleyn <xxxxxx@gmail.com>