The proposal to build two smaller battleships for the price of one large ship encounters several physical limits. Armour needs displacement to support it, machinery needs space and weight, and hull length helps a ship maintain speed in a seaway. Modern Naval Strategy compares Admiral Scheer and Barham to examine the tradeoff. Its figures contrast Scheer's six eleven-inch guns with Barham's eight fifteen-inch guns and compare their armour, speed, and displacement. The authors conclude that one Barham is worth three Scheers. The comparison is challenged at its starting point because Scheer is a heavy cruiser rather than a battleship.
Notable Point · 38:59-41:23
Barham and Admiral Scheer test the case for smaller battleships
Armour, machinery, hull length, and gun power complicate the claim that several smaller ships can replace a large battleship at equal cost.