The fleet figures give Britain and Japan 32 armoured cruisers against 28 for France and Russia. Britain alone has 106 protected or unprotected cruisers and 112 destroyers in this comparison. These forces strengthen the British side beyond the near-even battleship totals. France and Russia possess large torpedo-boat forces, but many boats have short ranges. Their numerical advantage matters less when an opponent can remain beyond their effective operating area.
Notable Point · 42:17-43:33
Cruiser and destroyer strength changes the fleet balance
British and Japanese cruiser strength and Britain's destroyers offset the apparent importance of French and Russian torpedo-boat numbers.