The force begins with an old 21-knot light cruiser that is too slow for the initial hunt. Once a mini-dreadnought-style heavy cruiser appears, the intended attack places destroyers on one side, the light cruiser in the middle, and the British heavy cruiser astern. Those positions force the opponent to divide its fire and attention. The plan still costs both destroyers and the light cruiser, while the enemy's four 11-inch guns demonstrate the punishment a much heavier weapon can inflict on cruisers.
Notable Point · 2:25:46-2:32:48
Dividing fire in a cruiser action
A small surface fight uses destroyers, a light cruiser, and a heavy cruiser to divide attention against a mini-dreadnought-style cruiser.