Soviet and Japanese battleship plans face different limits

The Soviet Union is expected eventually to launch new battleships and battlecruisers, but their quality remains doubtful after a long break in construction and the killing of experienced specialists. Even imperfect ships would create another planning problem for Germany, whether built in the Baltic or Black Sea. Japan would also have to account for Soviet expansion, although it starts with a substantial advantage. Its choice is whether to retain older battleships against the Soviet Pacific threat while new ships face other rivals, or discard the old vessels to crew an eight-eight fleet. Budget and fuel constraints compound that manpower decision.