Jackie Fisher saw value in submarines and torpedo craft without accepting them as replacements for a battle fleet. Britain could fund both flotillas and capital ships, allowing the cheaper vessels to form a defensive screen that delayed an attacker until the main fleet arrived. This retained the risk-imposing strength of the Jeune Ecole while avoiding France's all-or-nothing force choice. Britain's large World War I submarine, torpedo-boat, and destroyer forces show how the offset technology could be absorbed into a balanced navy.
Chapter · 14:06-15:36
Jackie Fisher uses flotillas to buy time for the battle fleet
Fisher adopted small craft as a defensive arm that could delay an attacker until Britain's battle fleet arrived.