Preliminary Draft Convention for the Limitation of Armaments submitted by the British Government on 21 March 1927 (Naval Sections Only)
Chapter III. – Naval Armaments.
7. As to each of the classes of ships mentioned in Table II of Annex I, the tonnage of any one ship, the number and tonnage of all the ships in that class and the calibre of the guns mounted in such ship must not exceed the figures there set down. The calibre of the torpedo carried by any ship shall not exceed ….
8. The High Contracting Parties accept and will observe the rules set out in Annex II[1] relating to the replacement of vessels of war.
9. Each of the High Contracting Parties accepts, so far as it is not already bound thereby, Articles 13 to 18 (inclusive) of the Treaty signed at Washington on the 6th February, 1922, for the Limitation of Naval Armaments.[2]
Annex I
Table II – Naval Armaments
Part I. – Explanatory Statement
| Type of War-ship | Description |
| Battleships and Battle Cruisers | War-ships of great displacement that embody the maximum armament protection and mobility which it is practical to combine in a single vessel. In the Battle Cruiser armament and protection are, in some degree, sacrificed to speed. |
| Cruisers | War-ships of medium displacement in which moderate armament and protection are combined with great speed |
| Aircraft Carriers | War-ships designed for the specific and exclusive purpose of carrying aircraft. They must be so constructed that aircraft can be launched therefrom and landed thereon. The aircraft carrier acts as a mobile base of operations for aircraft |
| Destroyers (includes Flotilla Leaders) | War-ships of small displacement possessing great speed. A gun armament effective against their own kind, with the torpedo as their chief weapon. May also be fitted to carry mines, aircraft, &c. |
| Submarines | War-ships possessing the power of submerging which enables them to operate unseen, to deliver surprise attacks and to decline action with superior forces. Principal weapon, the torpedo. |
Note. There are also other types in existence, such as Coast Defence Battleships specially constructed for operating in the vicinity of a coast line; Torpedo Boats, which are small destroyers lacking in sea-keeping qualities; Sloops, Mine-sweepers, &c., which are small types of war vessel for patrol, convoy or mine-sweeping purposes; River Gunboats, which are specially designed for operating in shallow waters and in rivers.
Part II. – Limitations of General Application
Type of Warship | Maximum Standard Displacement permitted | Maximum calibre of Guns that may be Mounted | Remarks | ||
Tons | Metric Tons | Inches | Milli-metres | ||
| Battleships and Battle Cruisers | |||||
| Coast Defence Battleships | |||||
| Cruisers | |||||
| Aircraft Carriers | |||||
| Destroyers (includes Flotilla Leaders) Torpedo-Boat Destroyers Leaders | |||||
| Torpedo Boats (includes Coastal Motor Boats) | |||||
| Submarines – Large Small | |||||
| Sloops, Minesweepers, &c. | |||||
| River Gunboats | These vessels may not employ the torpedo as a weapon | ||||
[1] Not drawn up.
[2] These clauses related to the prevention of scrapped vessels being reconverted into vessels of war, not preparing merchant ships in time of peace for conversion into warships, not building warships for other powers that exceed the limits prescribed in the Treaty, communicating the details of warships built for export to the other signatories, not expropriating warships being built for export in time of war, and not transferring warships to foreign nations.
Source: CMD3211, Papers regarding the Limitation of Naval Armaments, His Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1928, pp3-5
