The Kongo class is the most straightforward part of the proposed deployment because its 14-inch guns and battlecruiser role suit the fast force. Japanese and German battlecruiser procurement is interpreted here as including a requirement for second-line battleships. That gives the two navies a closer point of comparison than the shared battlecruiser label alone suggests. The Kongos approach the boundary between battlecruisers and fast battleships, with later modernization and improved subdivision potentially carrying them across it. This judgment about later development is separate from their proposed service at Jutland.
Notable Point · 15:18-16:16
The Kongos approach the fast-battleship boundary
The Kongos' 14-inch guns and intended battle role explain why they would be a powerful addition to the British battlecruiser force.