Invincible had capital-ship status, but her mission differed from both a battleship and a smaller Town-class cruiser. She needed to maintain a global presence, protect commerce, interdict enemy trade, and deal with hostile cruisers. Those duties demanded speed and the machinery to produce it. The space needed for that machinery helped determine her hull shape and gun arrangement.
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Invincible as a global cruiser
HMS Invincible was a dreadnought-style armoured cruiser intended for global presence, trade protection, and the defeat of enemy surface raiders.