Battleship displacement grew from roughly 10,000-ton iron and steel ships through Dreadnought, Queen Elizabeth, Hood, and the treaty era. A 1936 argument holds that continued growth eventually makes a ship less 'harbour worthy' because fewer ports can admit, dock, repair, and support it. No warship can remain permanently at sea, and even a very large ship may need battle-damage repair away from its purpose-built home base. Size can therefore add firepower and protection while reducing the number of regions in which that power is usable. Combat value depends on access to a support network as well as performance at sea.
Chapter · 2:38:40-2:43:17
When battleship growth undermined harbour access
Growing battleships could gain armament and protection while losing access to the harbours, docks, and repair facilities needed to sustain them.