Building Nelson and Rodney required Britain to dispose of Thunderer, King George V, Ajax, and Centurion under the treaty schedule. The exchange amounted to 32 existing main guns surrendered for 18 new ones, while the United States gave up only two battleships for its permitted completions. The British pair were individually more powerful, but they still had to operate alongside Tiger and older ships such as Emperor of India, Benbow, Iron Duke, and Marlborough. The comparison shows why force structure must be judged as a fleet system rather than by admiring the newest pair in isolation.
Notable Point · 33:12-34:24
Four older battleships for two Nelson-class ships
Britain disposed of four battleships and 32 guns to obtain Nelson and Rodney with 18 guns, leaving the modern pair embedded in an older battle line.