What is the largest warship Hoche could defeat?

What is the largest technologically contemporary ship Hoche could take on and defeat?

Earlier central-battery and barbette ironclads are credible opponents; early Whitehead torpedoes create only a remote chance against much larger ships.

Hoche's guns and armor are judged sufficient against the previous generation of central-battery and barbette ironclads. A higher rate of fire could also give her a chance against Inflexible and large contemporary Italian ironclads. Her underwater torpedoes create a disputed possibility of defeating much larger opponents at the short battle ranges expected in this period. One view stresses the damage a successful hit could inflict; the objection is that early Whitehead torpedoes could fail on entering the water, miss, or fail to function after striking. Poor gunnery accuracy also limits confidence, although ships could fire many more shells than torpedoes. Hoche's large 3.9-inch battery offers another source of firepower, provided the target is within range and firing arc. A possible lucky torpedo hit therefore does not establish a dependable advantage over a particular larger warship.