The American Lexington programme included investment in docks large enough to support its exceptionally long battlecruisers. The Philadelphia dry dock later used by New Jersey is cited as a surviving result of that decision. Britain could build and maintain its larger capital-ship studies at some facilities, but only a limited number of docks could accommodate them. Supporting those ships across the empire would have required further spending on overseas infrastructure. British designers consequently reduced their proposals to fit a wider existing network, including abandoning efforts to carry nine 18-inch guns in a battlecruiser of acceptable dimensions. A six-gun alternative could fit, but its main battery was judged too small.
Notable Point · 37:58-41:16
Lexington prompted new docks while British designs had to fit existing bases
The contrast explains why infrastructure spending allowed American designs to grow while Britain's worldwide basing requirements pushed G3 and N3 towards smaller forms.