A one-on-one gun and armour comparison misses the raider’s operational problem. Even a stronger ship risked steering or propulsion damage, a long engagement that alerted other forces, and no nearby base for repair. The Counties reflected this concern in their protection: steering gear had about 1.5 inches of armour, slightly more than the 1.25 inches over the machinery spaces. Concentrated fire against the stern or machinery could turn a tactical victory into a strategic failure for the raider. A battlecruiser slowed to about 20 knots could be caught by an R-class battleship, a Queen Elizabeth, Nelson, or Rodney. German raiders damaged by armed merchant cruisers likewise had to return home because they lacked a worldwide repair network.
Notable Point · 7:19-11:50
How a cruiser could deter a stronger raider
A raider did not need to be sunk for a defending cruiser to make the attack strategically unattractive.