Commissioned in 1935, Galatea joined the Mediterranean Fleet as flagship for Rear Admiral Destroyers. The Mediterranean offered an active training environment for a new class of small cruisers. In a hypothetical war with Japan, older C-class cruisers might handle some long-distance blockade duties while Arethusas served in the Indian Ocean. The Arethusas are presented as candidates for trade protection and distant commerce interdiction. This mix of roles suited the dispersed economic-warfare demands of a global navy.
Notable Point · 6:18-7:35
Why a small Arethusa could serve far from the battle fleet
The Mediterranean deployment becomes a starting point for considering how small cruisers might protect trade, raid commerce, and serve in the Indian Ocean during a war with Japan.