The familiar six battleships and six armored cruisers were only the deterrent core. Protected cruisers supplied regional presence, while destroyers and numerous torpedo boats prevented an enemy from swarming an unsupported battle line. Depot and specialist vessels sustained the torpedo arm. Expenditure is estimated at roughly 213 million yen, although totals depend on whether second-class protected cruisers, transferred weapons, and other costs are included. Ship counts also move with storm and exercise losses, replacements, source definitions, and the date at which a fleet is sampled.
Chapter · 49:59-56:22
The fleet hidden behind the Six-Six headline
Cruisers, destroyers, torpedo boats, depot ships, and a torpedo gunboat made the capital-ship core into a usable fighting fleet.