An early Dante Alighieri would have forced Britain to reclaim the initiative, much as HMS Warrior answered Gloire. Modern American aircraft carriers offer a comparison because their size and capability set the terms of global naval discussion. A navy ordering a new capital ship inevitably reveals which foreign fleet it treats as the standard. The fleet against which others measure themselves gains diplomatic status as well as military influence.
Notable Point · 3:55-7:15
Why benchmark navies shape every design debate
The navy that defines the reference ship gains diplomatic status and forces rivals to frame their programs around it.