The modern ship deliberately closes with the German squadron to accelerate the test and immediately begins taking damage. This choice would make little sense in real combat, where superior reach and speed should keep the older ships outside an effective firing solution. At close range, even obsolete weapons gain opportunities through sheer volume and reduced ballistic difficulty. A technical advantage matters only while the commander preserves the conditions that make it useful.
Notable Point · 39:32-41:27
Why closing range wastes a technical advantage
The 1900 test shows that even inferior weapons can hurt a modern ship once its commander voluntarily enters their effective range.