The hypothetical Argincourt would have set the comparison even if Britain paused construction, because later 16-inch Colorados would still be measured against its speed and 18-inch guns. A leading navy can also try to move the standard beyond an existing category. Fisher's large light cruisers and later battlecruisers can be read as an attempt to shift benchmark status away from the battleship and toward speed. HMS Hood achieved part of that effect, but the result was incomplete. When Britain next acquired two capital ships, it chose Nelson and Rodney over the F3 battlecruiser design, showing which type still carried institutional authority.
Notable Point · 41:15-42:43
Could battlecruisers replace the battleship benchmark?
An 18-inch fast battleship could have fixed the comparison before Fisher's large light cruisers and Hood tried to move capital-ship prestige from battleships toward battlecruisers.