The Franco-Prussian War left Germany with a recognized need for a navy, while the navy's precise tasks remained open to debate. Cheap torpedo boats could protect ports and coasts, freeing larger warships to operate elsewhere. Many early boats survived into World War I as minesweepers, school boats, and tenders. Their torpedoes still complicated an enemy's Baltic plans, since even obsolete craft took time to suppress and could add to the volume of an attack. Age and limited speed reduced their value, so continued service did not make them suitable front-line fleet units.
Chapter · 9:32-11:44
Coastal boats freed larger ships for other duties
Small German torpedo boats began as inexpensive coastal and port defenders that could release larger warships for operations elsewhere.