Armour and subdivision in the fast-battleship debate

Clarke objects to treating Renown or even the later Admiral designs as fast battleships merely on the strength of their armour. His distinction also requires adequate internal subdivision. Drach replies that having four Admirals could allow refits without the constant pressure to keep Hood available, making structural improvements more plausible. The discussion separates a limited reconstruction from a complete modernization. Even ships short of the fast-battleship standard could, in this scenario, be useful against Italy's rebuilt older battleships.