Why ambitious dreadnought studies became conservative ships

Publicity often presented dreadnought development as a succession of great technical leaps, although the ships built were conservative choices among more ambitious studies. Alternatives included versions of Kongo closer to fast battleships and American proposals for Argentina. In Britain, an advanced design could approach approval before a Treasury reduction forced a smaller development of the previous class. Warrior and Black Prince provide an earlier comparison: their ironclad-frigate form was less ambitious than a possible two-decker. South American buyers had to consider the ships they could support in service. Japan also faced limits on the foreign currency available to pay overseas suppliers. Technical possibilities therefore exceeded what governments were prepared or able to buy and sustain.