Mass procurement can turn lower unit costs into extra hulls: the illustrative comparison grows from three Lions against four Indefatigables to six against eight or twelve against sixteen. Whether quantity is preferable depends on the missions the force must perform. Japan provides a different buying model, paying for premium individual capability when ordering a small number of ships from Britain. An opponent with a larger fleet would then need to bring more ships to secure a victory. Australia and New Zealand were also buying individual centerpiece ships, with Australia's flagship serving as the ultimate guarantor for its local squadron. New Zealand's ship would largely depend on Australian support infrastructure, closely connecting the two Dominion design choices.
Chapter · 32:17-37:17
Why a flagship should not be second-class
Small savings matter less when a navy is buying only one or two capital-ship flagships whose individual fighting value anchors the local force.