The reconstructed Project 23 repeatedly loses to King George V, Lion, and Yamato-type opponents even after crew experience is equalised. Its protection already exceeds the planned ship's armour, yet the turrets and fighting ability still fail unexpectedly. Since the cause cannot be isolated, the defeats are set aside as historical evidence. The experiment does show a doctrinal constraint: Soviet forces expected close-range fighting because their likely Baltic and Black Sea operating areas left little room for long-range manoeuvre.
Notable Point · 5:11-17:29
Why the simulated battleship's defeats are evidence with limits
Repeated game defeats survive changes in crew quality and armour, but an unexplained simulation result cannot support a verdict on the real design.