Or so I have read, that on 29 December 1934, Japan formally renounced the
Washington Naval Treaty of 1922. etting off huge rearmament leading to
war.
The announcement of December 1934 was notice to terminate Japan's following
of
the treaty in 2 years time. It was already cheating, for example enabling
Soryu to
be a treaty carrier.
As of end January 1935 Japan had 10 battleships, counting Hiei which was
officially
a training ship (and would stay so until 1940), 2 fleet and 2 light aircraft
carriers,
12 heavy and 19 light cruisers, 27 modern (Fubuki class and later) and 64
older
destroyers, 4 torpedo boats, 9 minelayers and 53 submarines.
As of end January 1937 Japan had added 2 light cruisers, Mogami and Mikuma,
7 modern destroyers, 4 torpedo boats, and 2 submarines (actually 7 new less
5 scrapped).
As of end January 1939 the fleet was 10 battleships, 3 fleet and 2 light
carriers,
13 heavy and 24 light cruisers (including 2 captured from the Chinese), 47
modern
and 62 older destroyers, 12 torpedo boats, 10 minelayers and 58 submarines.
So an increase of 1 carrier, 1 heavy and 5 light cruisers (2 captured), 20
modern
destroyers, 8 torpedo boats, 1 minelayer and 5 submarines.
The Mogami class were withdrawn from service in the first half of 1939 and
converted to heavy cruisers, returning in late 1939 and early 1940.
As of end November 1941 the IJN had 10 battleships, 6 fleet, 3 light and 1
escort carriers, 18 heavy and 22 light cruisers, 68 modern and 55 older
destroyers, 12 torpedo boats, 4 escorts, 19 minelayers and 64 submarines.
In the period end January 1935 to end January 1939 the RN added 1
aircraft carrier, 16 light cruisers, 47 modern destroyers, 13 escorts
and 12 submarines. It had lost or scrapped 5 older destroyers.
The rise of Hitler was driving the RN program.
The USN added 2 aircraft carriers, 2 heavy and 7 light cruisers, 47
modern destroyers and 15 submarines, while scrapping 1 submarine.
None of the building programs were anything like those in the years before
WWI.
Geoffrey Sinclair
Remove the nb for email.