The comparison uses 48 British battleships, 29 French, 24 Russian, and six Japanese. That gives Britain and Japan a combined 54 against 53 for France and Russia. These are the figures used for the scenario, whose practical meaning depends on where the ships are located and whether they can operate together. British strength is described as concentrated mainly in home and Mediterranean forces, while Russian ships are divided between distant waters. Japan already has a concentrated force close to the principal theatre.
Notable Point · 41:03-42:17
Battleship totals versus fleets that can concentrate
A near-even combined battleship count conceals major differences in geographical concentration and practical availability.