Agincourt versus Kii changes the design race

How would an 18-inch Agincourt compare with the Japanese Kii class?

Kii would initially be faster, but British 18-inch service would probably push Japan to redesign its ships with heavier guns.

The proposed Kii class begins with a speed advantage of roughly two knots over the conservative Agincourt reconstruction. A direct paper comparison is unstable, however, because Agincourt's 18-inch guns would change the environment in which Japan designed Kii. Japan would be unlikely to accept 16-inch armament while Britain operated several larger-gun ships. A new capital ship can alter its supposed opponent before the two designs ever meet.