More fast capital ships could disrupt German rearmament

Germany would confront larger British, American, French, Italian, and Japanese fleets before beginning its own rearmament. Numerous fast capital ships make the Deutschland-class commerce-raider concept far less attractive, because even France can deploy ships capable of hunting them. If Germany does not build the Deutschlands, it may also lack the industrial progression needed to produce the Scharnhorst class and then the Bismarck class on the historical timetable. The same altered balance could push the Soviet Union toward capital ships earlier, making the familiar naval setting of the Second World War increasingly unlikely.