The Royal Navy used a layered response to surface raiders. Cruiser groups performed the dispersed work of searching, making contact, and inflicting damage. Battlecruisers did not need to patrol every ocean lane; they could cover likely routes home and close once a raider had been located. The division used numerous cruisers for detection while reserving scarce heavy ships for a decisive interception.
Notable Point · 2:19:14-2:19:39
How cruisers and battlecruisers divided the raider hunt
Cruiser groups searched for and damaged German raiders, while faster capital ships positioned to block their return delivered the finishing blow.