German battleships carried capabilities associated with distant operations even though their decisive contest lay close to home. A deliberately short-range battle fleet could concentrate displacement on speed, protection, or offensive power. Such ships might also appear less threatening to Britain because their inability to operate globally would support a regional mission. Germany instead copied requirements that made sense for the Royal Navy without fully exploiting its narrower geography.
Notable Point · 1:09:37-1:12:07
The case for a short-range German battle fleet
Germany could trade unnecessary global range for speed, armour, or firepower while also signalling a more limited regional purpose.