N3 and South Dakota balance armor, shell weight, and volume of fire

How do the British N3 and American 1920 South Dakota designs compare in a fight?

They are closely matched: N3 has heavier armor and shells, South Dakota has more guns, and the first effective hits likely decide the action.

Speed does not separate the two because both designs are approximately 23-knot ships. N3 carries nine 18-inch guns and a belt reaching about fifteen inches, while South Dakota carries twelve 16-inch guns behind a thinner maximum belt. The American ship can place more shells in the air, but each British hit is potentially more damaging. There is no clear paper winner; the action would turn on who hits first, the quality of those hits, and the circumstances of the engagement.