Battlecruiser and fast-battleship design forms a spectrum of increasing subdivision, armor thickness, and armor coverage. Invincible begins near the cruiser end with battleship guns, while Kongo and Tiger sit much farther along. Battlecruisers built to fight one another need more protection than cruiser hunters, and fast battleships must also expect to face battleships. Gun calibre alone therefore gives politicians an incomplete comparison of the ships' fighting qualities.
Notable Point · 13:38-14:41
Armor coverage and the battlecruiser spectrum
The comparison places Invincible, Kongo, Tiger, and fast battleships on a spectrum defined by subdivision and armor coverage as well as armor thickness.