Would the Admiral class become fast battleships, and what design lessons would the Baltic fight produce?
Short answerThe class would probably move closer to a fast-battleship balance, while the battle's range and use of aircraft would determine whether designers emphasized maneuver, balanced fleets, or long-range fire.
NotesThe Admiral design would follow a battle whose losses and combat conditions designers could not ignore. A very short-range fight would put greater weight on maneuverability, survivability, and a balanced supporting force. If aircraft-directed fire punished ships emerging from the canal at long range, improved range and fire control would matter more. The resulting ship would probably sit closer to a fast battleship than the historical early Admiral concept. Actual combat conditions would shape the design as much as the strategic result. A close combined-arms fight and a long-range spotted bombardment would produce different answers to the same question.