The design discussion closes by asking whether the Royal Sovereign class is the best boundary for the new type described as Royal Sovereign-style battleships rather than pre-dreadnoughts. Another contemporary class could provide a better dividing line, so the proposed periodisation is left open to challenge. French and especially Italian battleships are identified as plausible comparisons, with the Italian designs receiving the closest attention. Ship-type labels appear here as comparative historical arguments rather than automatic categories, leading into the wider international competition over capital-ship armament.
Notable Point · 45:28-46:20
Which class marks the new battleship type?
A closing challenge asks whether the Royal Sovereigns or a contemporary Italian or French design should define the transition to a new battleship type.