The familiar Iowa-versus-Yamato argument shows how a ranking can conceal the criteria behind it. Iowa is faster, while Yamato carries larger guns, and Iowa's place among battleships, fast battleships, and battlecruisers remains debatable. American infrastructure and treaty-era limits also shaped what could be built. The useful comparison is between design compromises rather than a context-free winner.
Notable Point · 44:23-46:39
Why battleship rankings hide design tradeoffs
A discussion of Iowa and Yamato shows why speed, gun power, classification, treaties, and infrastructure resist a simple best-battleship ranking.