Washington Disarmament Conference (1922)
The Washington Disarmament Conference which occurred from the November of 1921, to February 1922, in Washington, D.C. was held to create the Washington Naval Treaty. The outcome of the conference limited the construction of aircraft carriers, battleships, and battle cruisers The treaty was signed by Italy, France, Japan, the United States, and the United Kingdom. This treaty was later modified during the 1930 conference in London and then later modified again in the 1936 conference, again, in London.
Facts
- Capital ships were limited to 35,000 tons standard displacement and gun of no larger than 16-inch calibre. (Articles V and VI)- Aircraft carriers were limited to 27,000 tons and could carry no more than 10 heavy guns, of a maximum calibre of 8 inches. However, each signatory was allowed to use two existing capital ship hulls for aircraft carriers, with a displacement limit of 33,000 tons each. (Articles IX and X)
- All other warships were limited to a maximum displacement of 10,000 tons and a maximum gun calibre of 8 inches. (Articles XI and XII)
British Empire:
- Capital ships, limited to 525,000 tons (533,000 tonnes)
- Aircraft carriers, limited to 135,000 tons (137,000 tonnes)
United States:
- Capital ships, limited to 525,000 tons (533,000 tonnes)
- Aircraft carriers, limited to 135,000 tons (137,000 tonnes)
Japan:
- Capital ships, limited to 315,000 tons (320,000 tonnes)
- Aircraft carriers, limited to 81,000 tons (82,000 tonnes)
France:
- Capital ships, limited to 175,000 tons (178,000 tonnes)
- Aircraft carriers, limited to 60,000 tons (61,000 tonnes)
Italy:
- Capital ships, limited to 175,000 tons (178,000 tonnes)
- Aircraft Carriers, limited to 60,000 tons (61,000 tonnes)
- All other warships were limited to a maximum displacement of 10,000 tons and a maximum gun calibre of 8 inches. (Articles XI and XII)
British Empire:
- Capital ships, limited to 525,000 tons (533,000 tonnes)
- Aircraft carriers, limited to 135,000 tons (137,000 tonnes)
United States:
- Capital ships, limited to 525,000 tons (533,000 tonnes)
- Aircraft carriers, limited to 135,000 tons (137,000 tonnes)
Japan:
- Capital ships, limited to 315,000 tons (320,000 tonnes)
- Aircraft carriers, limited to 81,000 tons (82,000 tonnes)
France:
- Capital ships, limited to 175,000 tons (178,000 tonnes)
- Aircraft carriers, limited to 60,000 tons (61,000 tonnes)
Italy:
- Capital ships, limited to 175,000 tons (178,000 tonnes)
- Aircraft Carriers, limited to 60,000 tons (61,000 tonnes)
Sources
- Evans, David; Peattie, Mark (1997), Kaigun: Strategy, Tactics and Technology in the Imperial Japanese Navy, 1887-1941, Annapolis: Naval Institute Press, ISBN 0-87021-192-7.
- Kennedy, Paul (1983), The Rise and Fall of British Naval Mastery, London: Macmillan, ISBN 0-333-35094-4.
- Marriot, Leo (2005), Treaty Cruisers: The First International Warship Building Competition, Barnsley: Pen & Sword, ISBN 1-84415-188-3.
- Potter, E, ed. (1981), Sea Power: A Naval History (2nd ed.), Annapolis: Naval Institute Press, ISBN 0-87021-607-4.
- Jones, Howard (2001), Crucible of power: a history of US foreign relations since 1897, Rowman & Littlefield, ISBN 0-8420-2918-4.