American standard battleships facing a faster opponent

American standard battleships operating at 21 knots would face a substantial disadvantage against British battleships making 27-28 knots. Larger guns would still leave the faster opponent considerable control over where and how to engage. One possible response is raising American battle-line speed to about 25 knots; adoption of the full British speed remains uncertain. The US Navy could press for that change while members of Congress argued that an enemy must approach the slower fleet to fight it. That hypothetical congressional objection overlooks the slower fleet's inability to compel an engagement on its preferred terms.