The simulation pits two Italian approximations against two British treaty designs and initially produces a longer engagement because both sides carry artificially heavy protection. The computer-controlled gunnery also appears somewhat more accurate than historical shooting would have been. Once the first Italian ship is knocked out, the British pair can concentrate against the survivor and the battle turns rapidly. The result illustrates the tactical effect of concentration and the game's damage model, but it cannot establish how the unbuilt ships would have performed in real service.
Notable Point · 2:03:54-2:09:43
What the Caracciolo counterfactual battle can and cannot show
A two-on-two virtual battle tests the Caracciolo approximation against the British treaty design, with armour and computer accuracy limiting the result to a game demonstration rather than a historical verdict.