Pretty accurate IMHO
The only way the UK would be driven to spending the money needed to at least keep pace with the USN is if it felt the US was planning to use force (or the threat of force) to destroy its commercial interests in Latin America and Asia. Which is not OTL, though I suppose plausible PODs for the immediate post WW1 period could be created.
For the 1920s that would mean building the G3s and probably a second set of modified G3s. Cruisers, mostly I think like Leanders and Arethusas, depending on the USN build up. Also try to regain the Alliance with Japan. In Europe, stay close to France .
Financing this would require creativity. Probably stay off the Gold Standard or return at a much lower level than 1914. Default or unilaterally restructure the USD loans. Fund with sterling bonds and buy from the sterling zone.
Not easy or ideal and only to be done under immediate threat from an openly hostile USA.
Which is, I emphasize, NOT OTL.
If I were the Britain/RN, using what looks good at first glance without giving too much regard as to whether I'm drawing in too much hindsight, I would say:
-I'm for the purpose of this exercise assuming there is a Washington treaty per OP parameters, but a "mild" one. No 18" guns, no poison gas shells, and allows relatively generous if not unrestricted replacement schedules; capital ship size limits are either not in place or so generous that they really don't matter.
- Keep Winston way the hell away from the Treasury- the man has a hundred ideas a day, two of which are good, not a good quality for the post. No gold standard.
-One can never have too many friends. Keep the AJA intact, explain calmly and slowly to Messrs. Meighen and Hughes that the AJA doesn't mean the USA will invade Canada or shut off trade and that Australia is still Britain's favourite partner in the Pacific, and realize that there is no forseeable reason that the USA would start a war with Britain so stay calm about that.
Now, the fleet, keeping in mind the above optimal circumstances.
Our biggest threats are, in no particular order, Italy going stupid, Japan going insane, Germany going revanchist and HM Treasury going as usual.
We can save a lot of money by ditching anything pre-Dreadnought, all old dreadnoughts and battlecruisers with 12" or 13.5" guns bar
Tiger (
Iron Dukes to reserve if the Treaty and Exchequer allow it), the K-class subs, armoured cruisers and foreign battleships pressed into service can be dispensed with.
First, our capital ships, our core fleet units:
As
@jsb pointed out, one can pretty safely consider all 15" gunned ships to be "modern", or at the very least modern enough. The Follies are far too squishy for anything but carrier conversions or scrap, and I'd argue that in these early days, they are more useful as the former.
That leaves us with:
5×
Queen Elizabeth
5×
Revenge
2×
Renown
1×
Hood
Tiger could also be kept, she's capable of 28 kn on mixed-firing and there are enough 13.5" shells left for her to use, although unique ammunition restricts her usefulness, and likely her deployment to the Home or Channel fleets. Bulge, lengthen, and repower with all-oil firing boilers and she's good for 30-31 kn.
Of the battleships, 5 are slow and 5 more faster than slow but slower than fast, which puts them into the slow category. As for battlecruisers, 2 are fast but squishy, 1 is fast and strong, good for now, but will need work later as everyone else catches up.
As for the
Revenges, not really all that much can be done with them. They can't be made faster, but they are strong (protection is better than the QEs) and they pack a punch. Mediterranean or Home service should be suitable for them. Anti-torpedo bulges are just about the most work that should be done for them, along with increased AA fits and radar as they become available.
The
Queen Elizabeths, although they are more capable than their slower cousins, are really not that much so. They are not fast enough to roll with truly fast ships, as WWI demonstrated. However, they're the best thing the RN has
right now. They should get bulging, better AA, perhaps one or two get trial block superstructures to study the optimal layout. Still, they should be targeted for replacement.
R&R are swift but squishy, and relatively lightly armed. Still, they are useful right now.
Hood we will set aside for now. She isn't perfect, but she's probably the best capital ship afloat right now, and protection is really no worse than a QE. She'll need work or replacement later, but that is a ways off.
The G3 and follow-on "G3a" ships are what we really want. Something that, while not as muscular as a
South Dakota, can challenge it, run, and then challenge it again, using superior speed to decide the range and when battle will occur. Will a G3 ever face a SoDak? No, but you're using what's out there as a benchmark. Under ideal circumstances, cost no object, it would be nice to have 3 groups of 4 plus
Hood, replacing all current first line battleships and battlecruisers save 'Ud, one-for-one. That isn't happening. If the best you can get is 6, the best way would probably be to slow walk construction. Aim for 4 laid down in 1922. If you can't get that, ask for 3. If even 3 doesn't sell it, ask for 2. Then, don't stop researching! If you're laying down 2 per year every other year, include improvements in successive series. Let's say a G3a gets a stretch amidships to mitigate blast issues and accommodate more machinery so one is as fast or faster than a
Lexington, and a BL 16" Mk. II gun that reverts to heavy shell, low velocity. The next two G3b-IIs go to a two-fore, one-aft, no midships turret arrangement, and a BL 16" Mk. III gun that duplicates the performance of the Mk. II in a lighter package, that kind of stuff.
Cruisers should be big enough for long voyages, decently fast to run from bigger threats, and armed for trade protection, giving destroyers the business and giving raiders a bad day.
Hawkins and the like are the screen probers and punchers, but there won't be too many of those.
Don't slack off on destroyers and sloops! You need them, seeing how much misery subs cost you the last time around.
Get the Dominions and Crown Colonies involved fully. Sweeten the pot if you have to and recoup the investment later.
AUS can keep HMAS
Australia, and wave the White Ensign in the Pacific.
CAN, you don't want a capital ship, fine, but nobody is going to invade you without coming across an ocean. You get a light cruiser and a squadron of destroyers for each coast. Both of the bigger kids should also be encouraged to develop the facilities to maintain these and other ships.
ZA, NZ- you guys get some destroyers and sloops, or you can contribute a watch for a bigger ship.
Crown Colonies- send your best and brightest for officer training schemes and bring back the expertise. One never knows when it will be needed. More hands are better too, so reserve seaman training schemes would be beneficial as well, provided they aren't too expensive. Even fishermen can be eyes and ears when necessary.
