A close blockade places a force outside enemy ports to prevent movement. Watching a major naval base demands different ships from policing a merchant harbor that shelters only a few privateers. An inshore squadron facing a battle fleet must carry enough strength to meet a sortie. Commanders therefore have to match ship types and spending to the threat at each port instead of applying one formation everywhere.
Chapter · 4:35-5:36
Close blockades require different forces for different ports
A close blockade sits outside the enemy port, but the ships required depend on whether the target is a battle fleet, merchant traffic, or a privateer base.