Affordability, maintenance, and coverage across several theatres can matter more than the largest conceivable battleship. The Royal Navy needed battle squadrons for the Mediterranean, Indian Ocean, Pacific, and perhaps Atlantic at the same time. Older Sovereign-style battleships therefore retained useful roles after HMS Dreadnought entered service. A fleet cannot be judged by its flagship alone. A suitable design has to match a nation's missions, locations, and sustainable fleet size.
Notable Point · 59:12-1:00:25
The best dreadnought depended on the mission
The closing design exercise rejects the biggest possible battleship in favour of a ship a navy can afford in sufficient numbers for its actual global commitments.