Destroyers spotting for heavier guns

How realistic is it for destroyers and cruisers to spot enemy ships while larger ships remain outside the enemy's range?

It reflects a real scouting role: smaller ships could close, observe the enemy, and report its position so heavier guns could engage from farther away.

Smaller ships can act as the force's forward eyes as well as light combatants. Destroyers might close during night actions, illuminate an enemy, and radio its position. Destroyers and cruisers can therefore pass targeting information back to ships carrying the long-range guns. That division of labour explains why a force may expose scouts while keeping heavier units outside an opponent's effective range.