A battleship is defined by the kind of action it is built to survive. A cruiser fights through movement, commerce warfare, pursuit, and the option to disengage. A battleship is intended for the battle that cannot be dodged and must absorb punishment while continuing to hit back. Armour and structural strength express a doctrinal requirement to endure the fleet's decisive slugging match.
Notable Point · 1:45:30-1:46:57
A battleship is built for the battle it cannot avoid
The defining battleship quality is the strength to absorb punishment and keep fighting in a decisive action rather than size or gun power alone.