Later American fast battleships can give a misleading picture of World War I design priorities. Prewar and early postwar US designs placed protection first, firepower second, and speed a distant third. That order made sense for a defensive fleet which expected an opponent to approach the American battle line. North Carolina, South Dakota, and Iowa represented a later departure shaped by different operational needs. Against the actual American 21-knot baseline, the speed of Francesco Caracciolo appeared far more dramatic.
Notable Point · 54:28-56:55
Prewar American battleships put speed last
Before the fast-battleship era, American designers prioritized protection and firepower because a defensive fleet expected its opponent to come to it.