The Channel Fleet's sacrificial delay mission

What were the Royal Navy's pre-dreadnought Channel squadrons expected to fight?

They were expected to delay a German breakthrough at the Channel barrier until the Grand Fleet arrived, accepting that the mission could require them to fight until sunk.

These older ships were not expected to defeat the main German battle fleet. Their operational purpose was to hold the Channel barrier without retreat, buying the time required for the Grand Fleet to intervene even at the likely cost of the ships and many of their reservist crews.