American industry and machinery expertise could have supported a much faster capital ship. A 28-knot battleship ordered around 1911 or 1912 is presented as a counterfactual opportunity. Such a leap could have changed how other navies judged US design leadership, while later forces would have gained fast capital ships better able to accompany quick task groups. Standard battleships remained politically attractive because some members of Congress opposed naval spending as a route into foreign wars, while others expected new equipment to become obsolete quickly. Deferring procurement could save money for a time, but it also risked losing the yards and specialist capacity needed when rapid construction became urgent.
Notable Point · 15:28-18:09
What US battleship standardization left unexplored
American machinery expertise could have supported an early fast battleship, but political caution and commitment to the standard battle line favored uniform numbers over a disruptive performance leap.