One case is a navy wanting a principal capital ship for presence and wartime command without building the institutions and air group needed for a carrier. Poland and a Baltic-centered force illustrate geography where a carrier may be a poor fit because the operating area is narrow. The other case is a navy that needs far more combat power but lacks enough personnel for many crewed ships; a large, automated surface combatant concentrates capability in one hull. Japan's historic 6-6 Plan supplies the comparison for a smaller power using large ships and heavy guns to magnify its standing. These conditions differ from the asymmetric Cold War environment in which the idea made little sense.
Chapter · 36:37-40:23
Where a modern battleship might be strategically viable
The strongest cases are navies that reject carriers as their prestige asset and fleets seeking concentrated firepower under tight crew limits.