The British must retain ships for Far Eastern and Mediterranean commitments, while the United States cannot neglect the Pacific and its west coast. An Anglo-Japanese alignment would make American concentration in the Atlantic even riskier. That makes a four-versus-four convoy encounter more plausible than comparing entire battle fleets. Geography, alliances and standing commitments shape usable strength before a single gun fires.
Notable Point · 2:13-5:22
Global commitments constrain both battle fleets
A fair squadron action depends on the strategic problem that neither Britain nor the United States can safely concentrate every capital ship in the Atlantic.