First-, second-, and third-rate labels were concise. Modern classification needs more words to describe combat capability accurately. The television example asks whether a ship can simply be described as carrying 90 guns. That total hides the fact that roughly 50 could be machine guns, which contribute little to a ship-to-ship gunnery duel. Describing the ship's role and main battery takes more words and keeps the comparison focused on the weapons relevant to that fight.
Notable Point · 2:22-2:47
Why modern warship labels are wordier
A dramatic total such as 90 guns can mislead when many of those weapons are machine guns with little bearing on a ship-to-ship gunnery duel.