A simple fighting hierarchy does not explain British cruiser procurement. Battlecruisers could overmatch armoured or light cruisers, just as those types could defeat ships below them, yet every tier still served missions that justified its cost. The Courageous class’s contemporary description as large light cruisers also shows how unstable labels could be. British planners had battlecruisers available and lacked an immediate wartime requirement for a separate heavy cruiser. Procurement therefore depended on the kind of war and duty the navy expected as much as on which ship would win a duel.
Notable Point · 3:12-5:30
Fleet hierarchy and role specialisation
Battlecruisers could defeat smaller cruisers, yet navies retained lower tiers for distinct missions, operating areas, and costs.