The comment praises designs that maximize capability within known logistical and strategic limits instead of trying to perform every mission. Clear roles make compromises legible to the commanders who must employ the ship. Reduced armor, for example, can be acceptable when it buys speed or another needed quality and everyone understands the resulting vulnerability. The danger comes when a cruiser is treated as a substitute capital ship and risked in a direct fight against opponents such as Yamato or Musashi.
Notable Point · 33:52-34:15
Clear roles make warship compromises manageable
A successful warship need not do everything if its logistical constraints, operational role, and accepted vulnerabilities are clear to commanders.