US North Carolina-class battleships
British King George V-class battleships
Japanese Yamato
An item dated Washington, USA 30 April reported that the discussions between England (1) and the USA (2) about the maximum tonnage (3) for the new super battleships to be built them had still none definitive answers. American experts stated that England demanded a limit of 42.000 tons, while the USA wondered what the Japanese plans (4) were before deciding about such a limit. In the single meeting until know became clear that both delegates totally disagreed. The English delegation postponed a new conference waiting for a renewed American starting point and the new instructions for the American representatives. There was hardly evidence that this would happen. (5)
Notes
1. The USA built first the battleships of the North Carolina-class consisting of the North Carolina and Washington, with a displacement of 35.000 tons and commissioned in 1941 and the South Dakota-class consisting of the South Dakota, Indiana, Massachusetts and Alabama, with a displacement of 38.000 tons and commissioned in 1942. These classes were succeeded b the 48.500 tons Iowa-class, consisting of the Iowa, New Jersey, Missouri, Wisconsin, Illinois and Kentucky commissioned between 1943-1944, except for the latter two which were never completed.
2. King George V-class consisted of the King George V, Prince of Wales, Duke of York, Howe and Anson, preceded by the Nelson-class and succeeded by the Vanguard and by the never realized Lion-class. In 1928 was started designing this class regarded the limitations of the Washington Naval Treaty of 1922 which allowed non building of battleships until 1931. The design-process was for a second time halted due to the London Naval Treaty of 1930 which continued the building stop until 1937.In 1935 started the Royal British navy again the designing process based on what already was achieved. The Treaty limited the displacement to a maximum of 35.000 tons and further more was the calibre of the main armament discussed. The choice was 14-16” with a first choice for 15” guns. However in October that same year it was decided that the calibre was to be 10-14” guns instead of 15”, a decision heavily protested by First Lord of Admiralty in 1935 Winston Churchill. The names Jellicoe and Beatty were not used. The Jellicoe became the Anson, the Beatty the Howe with the original planned Anson became the Duke of York. The planned successors of the King George V-class were the six 43.230 tons Lion-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.
3. 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.
4. The Yamato-class of which the Yamato and Musashi were completed as battleships the Shinano as aircraft carrier with the fourth to which is referred as the No. 111, was laid down on 7 July 1940 but never completed. The displacement of the Yamato was actually 71/659 (full load) tons and the main armament 3x3-46cm/18.1” /45 guns.
