Power density imposed its own design costs

Bainbridge's energy-heavy sensor fit leads into a broader lesson about naval power systems: generating more electricity does not solve equipment whose throughput remains inefficient. Proposed shipboard lasers illustrate the difference between available power and the engineering needed to turn that power into an effective weapon. The discussion then compares battlecruisers with battleships to explain why propulsion, speed, and power control can cost more than armor. A faster ship may carry fewer guns and less protection while remaining more expensive to build.