Why early U.S. naval growth favoured battleships

Battleship construction accelerated while cruisers lagged even though Mahan recognized the need for commerce protection. Congress found the combat power, status, and defensive symbolism of battleships easier to support than the less visible diplomatic and presence functions of cruisers. A battle fleet also suited the argument that the sea gave America defensive depth by forcing an attacker to project and sustain superior strength across it. Japan's four-battleship and four-armoured-cruiser force shows how fleet composition could multiply the logistical burden imposed on a distant enemy. Institutions can receive a broad sea-power argument selectively and fund the parts that match their immediate political concerns.