Washington Naval Treaty — 1922 international treaty concerning naval construction and fleet limits
First multilateral agreement to limit naval armaments, establishing tonnage ratios among major powers to prevent post-WWI arms race.
Key Facts
- Date signed
- February 6, 1922
- Number of signatory powers
- 5 (British Empire, USA, France, Italy, Japan)
- Ratifications exchanged
- August 17, 1923
- Cruiser/destroyer displacement limit
- 10,000 tons each tons
- Succeeded by
- London Naval Treaty, 1930
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
Following World War I, the major Allied powers faced mounting costs from competitive naval expansion, particularly in battleships and battlecruisers. The United States, British Empire, and Japan were all pursuing ambitious shipbuilding programs, raising fears of a destabilizing arms race that could strain national finances and international relations.
Negotiated at the Washington Naval Conference from November 1921 to February 1922, the treaty was signed by the British Empire, United States, France, Italy, and Japan. It imposed tonnage limits and construction restrictions on battleships, battlecruisers, and aircraft carriers, while capping other warship classes at 10,000 tons displacement each.
The treaty slowed major warship construction through the 1920s and was modified by the London Naval Treaty of 1930. However, by the mid-1930s Japan and Italy had renounced their obligations, Germany repudiated the Treaty of Versailles limits on its navy, and naval arms limitation among the powers effectively collapsed ahead of World War II.
Political Outcome
Major powers agreed to limit battleship, battlecruiser, and aircraft carrier tonnage; cruisers and smaller vessels capped at 10,000 tons displacement each.
Unconstrained post-WWI naval arms competition among major Allied powers
Codified tonnage ratios limiting fleet sizes, with Japan and Italy later renouncing terms by mid-1930s