Arbuthnot's cruiser manoeuvre differed from a destroyer attack even though both involved charging through gunfire. Destroyers were small, difficult targets whose purpose included closing to torpedo range between opposing battle lines. Their crews and hulls were never casually disposable, but the ships were cheaper and faster to replace than armoured cruisers. The comparison links tactics to force economics: acceptable risk depends on a platform's mission, striking method, survivability, and replacement burden.
Notable Point · 1:06:24-1:07:01
Why destroyers could risk the battle line
Destroyers were expected to dash between battle lines because torpedo attack justified the danger and their replacement cost differed sharply from that of cruisers.