How does an enclosed sea affect the design of navies such as Sweden's or Austria-Hungary's?
Short answerShorter distances can favor smaller ships, while oceanic fleets need larger hulls for endurance, stores, maintenance, and crew support.
NotesEnclosed waters can favor smaller ships because distances are shorter and large vessels have less room to hide. The Black Sea provides a further comparison: nearby opponents simplify some problems of command, weather assessment and coordination, although they remain difficult. Such conditions differ from operations across the Atlantic or Pacific. Long deployments drive ships upward in size through the need to carry more stores and spare parts. More maintenance work and a larger crew then create further support needs, including medical personnel.