Timing matters in an expensive building program. Roughly 500,000 tons are free for new construction, but the research queue is checked before committing to a Rodney class. Advanced hull materials, internal protection, improved shells, and turret mechanisms are all close enough to affect the next design. Waiting two months trades immediate construction for a better technical baseline and avoids freezing a capital ship just before useful advances arrive.
Notable Point · 2:08:23-2:09:40
Research gates the next Rodney design
Before designing a new battleship, the research queue is checked to see whether better hull protection and systems justify a short delay.