A Germany concentrating more heavily on submarines would still leave Britain facing Japanese and Italian capital ships. Britain would therefore retain a reason to build battleships alongside extra escorts. A more Pacific-focused requirement could have favoured greater speed and somewhat less armour in the King George V design. Greater emphasis on the Mediterranean could instead have encouraged more anti-aircraft protection. The discussion treats these as possible responses to a changed threat balance. Each additional alteration makes the resulting war harder to predict.
Notable Point · 4:52:18-4:54:45
How a different German fleet might have changed British battleship priorities
Japan and Italy would preserve Britain's need for battleships, while a different threat balance could change speed, armour, and anti-aircraft priorities.