Calling Scharnhorst and Gneisenau battlecruisers made Renown, Repulse, and Hood appear to cover the threat because the British ships carried 15-inch guns against German 11-inch weapons. That comparison could help justify pausing the King George Vs. The German ships carried 11-inch guns because waiting for 15-inch weapons would have delayed their availability too long. Their armor coverage and subdivision support treating them as small fast battleships in this analysis. They were the strongest fast battleships Germany could build at that point, so judging the threat by gun caliber alone understated Britain's shortage.
Notable Point · 36:23-37:29
Scharnhorst's smaller guns concealed a fast-battleship threat
Treating Scharnhorst and Gneisenau as battlecruisers made Britain's existing 15-inch-gunned ships appear sufficient, despite the German ships' protection and subdivision.