The politically awkward subject of surface raiding could be taught under the safer label of a cruiser problem. Exercise rules demanded realistic movements, fuel and endurance calculations, accurate plotting of friendly forces, disciplined command relationships, and written narratives. Junior officers could temporarily receive senior game commands, forcing everyone to respect the exercise chain of command and giving promising officers a demanding test. This attention to staff work and reporting reflected the Royal Navy's effort to prevent another breakdown like the communication failures at Jutland. An apparently tactical game also rehearsed the administrative habits needed to command at sea.
Notable Point · 10:43-13:29
Cruiser problems disguised the practice of economic war
Cruiser exercises trained scouting, patrol, and commerce-war skills while also rehearsing chart work, communications, command relationships, and war diaries.