The Maximus design would dominate any plausible 1914 opponent, but that dominance could undermine Britain's larger strategy. If Germany concluded that dreadnought competition was hopeless, it might redirect resources toward a different form of naval challenge instead of exhausting itself in the contest Britain preferred. America, Italy, and Austria-Hungary could answer with still larger capital ships, with the Tillman battleship debate illustrating the scale of a possible response. Restrained qualitative competition could provide prestige and release tension, whereas an extreme leap might intensify procurement and alter the eventual Washington Naval Treaty settlement.
Notable Point · 1:04:15-1:09:15
When technical supremacy changes the contest
An overwhelming British super-battleship might have driven Germany toward asymmetric answers and transformed American Tillman proposals and later treaty limits.