King George V-class
An item dated London, England 21 April reported that the British cabinet officially informed the League of Nations of her intention of building larger battleships than 35.000 tons.(1)
Note
1. An increase of the displacement was possible. The London Naval Treaty was a result of the Second London Naval Disarmament Conference and which begun on 9 December 1935. Finally was the treaty signed by United Kingdom, USA and France on 25 March 1936. Italy and Japan which in the past signed the other naval treaties both declined to sign. Capital ships were under this new treaty limited to a maximum of 35.562 tons and 35,6cm/14” guns. The escalator clause supplied the possibility to use 16” guns and larger battleships if Japan or Italy still had not signed after 1 April 1937. The planned successors of the 35.000 tons King George V-class were the six 43.230 tons Lyon-class battleships to be armed with 40,6cm/16” guns, to be built under the naval programmes of 1938-1940 of which just two were laid down but none completed.
