Fisher viewed Britain as a maritime nation and empire whose survival depended on worldwide trade. A strong battle fleet remained necessary, but the Royal Navy already possessed a huge pre-dreadnought force and did not face an immediate shortage of battle-line strength. The sequence of one Dreadnought followed by three battlecruisers expressed a clear strategic priority. The faster ships addressed commerce security while the existing battleships provided the fleet insurance Britain already held in abundance.
Chapter · 5:40-6:27
Why Fisher followed one Dreadnought with three battlecruisers
The order for one Dreadnought and three battlecruisers reflected Fisher's judgment that securing Britain's worldwide trade was more urgent than adding another battleship group.