Two flagships versus a usable fleet

Building only two Nelsons is offered as an explanation for prioritising armour and treating the ships as precious flagships. With two hulls, an accident or refit can reduce the usable force to one. Four ships could support one at sea, another available to surge, and two in refit or repair; a larger force gives more flexibility. A hypothetical treaty settlement retiring the remaining 13.5-inch ships might have permitted five or six Nelson-type replacements, depending on the tonnage allowance. With that larger class, the proposed trade would be slightly less armour, a third shaft, and enough power for 28 knots. Subsequent cuts could then fall on the R class, changing which older ships received modernisation.