Even an H-39 laid down in 1935 would face a long path through 16-inch-gun development, machinery work, trials, and correction. Scharnhorst and Gneisenau provide the comparison because their commissioning dates followed protracted construction but still did not mark the end of testing and rebuilding. German practice could reach a threshold for commissioning before significant proving work was complete. A counterfactual fleet schedule therefore cannot treat launch or commissioning as immediate operational capability.
Notable Point · 58:40-59:34
Commissioning was not operational readiness
Scharnhorst and Gneisenau show why a formal commissioning date could precede completed testing and true combat availability.