An engagement between armed naval forces remains a battle even when one side is surprised and cannot mount an effective response. Violence against civilians warrants language such as slaughter. The Battle of Cape Bon supplies a naval comparison: two Tribal-class destroyers did most of the fighting against two Italian cruisers while the other Allied destroyers never entered the action. Dismissive labels can obscure how effectively one force carried out its duty and blur the distinction between combatants and civilians.
Notable Point · 3:11-6:12
Why Blackett Strait remains a battle despite its one-sided result
Armed opponents make Blackett Strait a battle despite the one-sided result, while violence against civilians belongs to a different category.