Matching Queen Elizabeth's eight 15-inch guns at roughly 21 knots still left Bayern short of the faster British ship's tactical freedom. Bayern looked formidable on paper but was closer to the Revenge class than to the Queen Elizabeths. The American decision to retain 14-inch guns also spared Britain from an immediate technical escalation and let it emphasize hull numbers. Revenge could carry eight 15-inch guns and a 13-inch belt, while Bayern's quoted belt varied from 6.7 to 13.8 inches. Revenge's shorter, more crowded hull also appeared to offer less room for later improvement than Queen Elizabeth. Cheaper twin mounts supported Britain's preference for a larger fleet over more ambitious multiple-gun installations.
Chapter · 7:18-11:42
Bayern, Revenge, and fleet numbers
Comparing the Bayern and Revenge classes shows why capital-ship competition involved speed, armour, gun calibre, and the number of hulls a navy could afford.
15-inch Guns16-inch GunsBattleshipsBayern Class BattleshipsCapital ShipsDefence ProcurementFleet ExpansionForce StructureImperial German NavyNaval Arms RaceNaval StrategyQueen Elizabeth Class BattleshipsRevenge Class BattleshipsRoyal NavyShip SpeedShip UpgradesTriple TurretsTwin TurretsWarship Armour