What an AI-run battle can and cannot test

Both squadrons remain under AI control so the comparison does not depend on a human player outperforming the computer. A human British commander would probably charge in line abreast to exploit nine forward-firing guns and present a narrow target angle. A lucky hit, compared here with the loss of HMS Hood, could also overturn the expected balance. Repeated engine damage raises a separate question about whether the simulated stern and machinery protection are adequate. These limits make the battle useful for design discussion without turning it into a literal historical experiment.