Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 3:22:25-3:23:27

The cruiser force a commerce raider least wants to meet

A squadron of eight County-class cruisers is an even worse encounter for a raider than four Town-class cruisers because the numerical weight leaves almost no favorable fight.

Commerce RaidingCounty Class CruisersCruisersNaval TacticsTown Class Light Cruisers (1936)
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Question

For a commerce-raiding cruiser, which is the worse encounter: eight County-class cruisers or four Town-class cruisers?

Short answer

Eight County-class cruisers are the worse opponent, although either concentrated cruiser force would be disastrous for a lone raider.

Notes

A squadron of eight County-class cruisers is compared with four Town-class cruisers. A Deutschland-type or Japanese commerce raider would be in serious danger against either force. The eight Counties are the worse encounter because the raider would face twice as many cruisers and essentially no favorable fight. This conclusion follows the panel's reading of 'half the size' as four Towns against eight Counties.