How armoured cruisers were meant to support the battle line

Armoured cruisers were intended to reinforce battleships after the battle line already held an advantage. In the design-era example, eight British battleships face six enemy capital ships. Four cruisers follow each four-battleship division, adding weight and manoeuvring reach without becoming the core battle line. The two mixed forces then seek to envelop the enemy and cross the line from van and rear, creating fire from opposite directions. Here, adjunct means reinforcing an existing superiority, not exposing cruisers as ersatz battleships.