The Fuso class should not be treated as merely a derivative of British work. Kongo and the information exchanged around her construction would have contributed useful experience. Japanese naval architects were also capable of developing their own solutions and applying their own intelligence. Fuso's resulting form combined transferred experience with distinct Japanese design choices.
Notable Point · 30:25-31:17
From Kongo experience to the Japanese-designed Fuso class
The Fuso class could draw on knowledge gained from the British-built Kongo while still expressing Japan's own developing naval intelligence and design practice.