The destroyer bombardment of Benghazi gave Italian forces a firm position to investigate while other British movements continued elsewhere. It inflicted damage and drew attention toward ships whose location the British were willing to reveal. More escorts could support additional operations of this kind alongside direct convoy protection. Extra hulls therefore gave commanders more ways to exploit favorable situations and complicate an opponent's choices.
Notable Point · 1:08:57-1:11:19
Quantity creates operational opportunity
Additional destroyers could protect convoys and mount diversions that drew enemy attention toward deliberately exposed forces.