Speed and protection

I have some of my photographs on my cube walls at work. My latest GB/CB/1905 photo is prominently placed:

The two main criticisms of the design, by several prominent authors, have been that the ship needed to have eight guns, so that it could fire alternate four gun salvos, as was the British practice. The other is that the belt is too thin, at four inches. One author is prepared to sacrifice speed to achieve better protection while another told me that 6in would be adequate to protect against splinters. He would have an armament of 8-12in/45 guns and a 6in belt. He also told me that Sir Philip Watts would have approved of my design.

(notice the date on the drawing)