The fact that a later weapon may supersede a ship does not erase the value delivered before that change. Thirty years from 1914 reaches 1944, covering almost all of both world wars. Aircraft and submarines developed throughout that period, yet battleships remained necessary for diplomacy, fleet operations, and wartime missions for much of it. Before snorkels, submarines spent most of their time on the surface under diesel power and were closer to torpedo boats that could occasionally submerge. Naval aviation and submarines reached something closer to equal standing with battleships only near the end of that span. Refusing a needed capability because a future system may eventually replace it can leave a navy exposed for an entire generation.
Notable Point · 42:20-45:32
Why thirty useful years still justify a warship
A reply to claims that future bombers would make a giant battleship pointless explains how much military and diplomatic value can fit into thirty years.