Cruising was a role that shaped the names given to ships performing it, so a history of cruisers extends beyond a list of ship classes. Fisher considered 'frigates' as a name for ships that became battlecruisers. The proposed name illustrates how the meaning of frigate changed over time, complicating comparisons based on labels alone.
Notable Point · 1:16:45-1:17:22
Cruiser roles and the changing meaning of frigate
Cruising duties and Fisher's proposed frigate terminology illustrate why ship names need to be read in their historical context.