A more threatening wartime balance could strengthen the case for completing the Admiral-class ships. In this counterfactual, they might be designed as fast battleships from the outset. The proposed change is to accept about 28 knots in place of 33 knots. At the scale of an Admiral-class hull, that reduction would release considerable weight for protection, including the more extensive 12-inch armour discussed in the exchange. The argument connects the Royal Navy's fast-battleship doctrine with the machinery and armour tradeoff created by giving up the final five knots.
Notable Point · 1:17:58-1:18:52
Slower Admiral-class ships could carry battleship protection
In the longer-war scenario, accepting 28 knots could let Admiral-class hulls carry much heavier protection and serve as fast battleships.