The familiar formula required the Royal Navy to match the next two navies combined, but fleet needs still varied by ship type and mission. Battleships drew attention as the visible centerpieces of battle fleets. Cruiser requirements could exceed a simple two-power comparison, and supporting ships did much of the work that made sea power usable. The standard therefore covered more than headline battleship totals and provided the planning framework for the rest of the series.
Chapter · 2:42-6:08
The two-power standard was more than a battleship count
The 1889 act formalized a two-power standard whose practical demands extended beyond matching rival battleship totals.