But he's the bestest most smartest stablest genius with the perfect memory in the world, why wouldn't we take what he says at exactly face value?
Because the bestest most smartest stablest genius with perfect memory would have said gold plated aircraft carriers if he really meant aircraft carriers and not battleships. Or missile cruisers. Or littoral combat ships. Because he's so smart. He would have said exactly what he meant.
But he didn't say that. HE said battleships. Just like how he wants aircraft carriers to keep using steampower to power the catapults. And that windmills cause cancer.