Bayern provides the contrast: equal headline armament did not produce equal strategic effect. Eight 15-inch guns and 21 knots looked comparable to British ships on paper, but the German design lacked the Queen Elizabeth class's speed. In a fleet action, Revenge-class battleships could hold or pin the German line while faster Queen Elizabeths manoeuvred around it. That movement raised the possibility of turning or crossing the German T. Deterrence therefore depended on fleet composition and tactical options as well as the gun count of a single class.
Notable Point · 17:21-18:03
Why matching gun power did not equal deterrence
Bayern's eight 15-inch guns looked impressive in isolation, but a mixed British force could combine Revenge-class staying power with Queen Elizabeth-class speed.