alternatehistory.com

At the Versailles Conference the Germans were able to obtain a change in the treaty.

Specifically that Germany would be permitted to build warships in any number within the tonnage allotted per class but with no additional limitations. Also that tonnage permitted for reserve ships in one category could, if reduced by fifty percent, be used for regular warships of a lower category.

As a result the German navy would be limited to 60,000 tons of battleships, 46,000 tons of cruisers as half of the 20,000 tons of reserve battleships were transferred to this category, 14200 tons of destroyers as half of the 3,000 tons of reserve cruisers were transferred to this category and 5600 tons of torpedo boats as 1600 tons of reserve destroyers...


During the 1920s the new German fleet was established with 24 torpedo boats of 200 tons each(not all tonnage was used), 16 destroyers of 800 tons each(again not all tonnage was used), 4 pocket battleships of 12,000 tons each(publicly classified at 10,000 tons) armed with 11" guns as per OTL, and two 34,000 ton battleships(publicly classified at 30,000 tons) armed with 15" guns.

While clearly no match for the Royal Navy this squadron could in fact face anything less a majority of the French or Italian fleet and defeat any other navy in Europe. Germany also has a much better and more recent idea as to constructing larger warships with big guns and armor.

Assuming events similar to OTL, including an effective ban on carriers until the Anglo-German Treaty of 1936, what would you do to further expand the German fleet prior to WWII?


Bonus question! Given such a German force, what would be likely British or French responses at sea or elsewhere?
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