Giving the German opponent fifteen main guns

The next trial gives the German opponent fifteen 15-inch guns against Ajax's fifteen 16-inch weapons. The change tests the suspicion that salvo volume accounts for much of Ajax's earlier success. The opponent also receives a veteran crew and an additional turret, although the resulting layout is judged unlikely for an actual German design. Increasing displacement to 48,000 tons creates another concern because the resulting draft appears deep for the Kiel Canal. Gun count, crew experience, and the opponent's arrangement all change before the next battle.