Fast battleships and the protection spectrum

Fast battleships retain the armor coverage and internal subdivision needed to fight other battleships. The Iowa's nine-gun battery belongs to that balance of armament, protection, and speed. At the cruiser end of the proposed spectrum, the Invincible class combines speed with protection suited to fighting cruisers and a trade-protection role. Dense, honeycomb-like subdivision belongs at the dreadnought end, while cruiser-style subdivision occupies the other. The distinction therefore involves the internal arrangement and density of protection, as well as maximum speed.