Fisher's Baltic concept aimed to shut Germany's coastal traffic and its access to imports through neutral Scandinavia after the High Seas Fleet had been defeated. The shallow-draft large light cruisers were intended to exploit a channel unavailable to heavier fleet units. Ordinary cruisers and destroyers, especially the Harwich Force, could already perform that breakthrough role. Britain's numerical strength in those types made three specialized and weakly protected ships unnecessary for opening a second route. Converting Furious into an aviation ship could recover more value than preserving her original niche.
Notable Point · 21:21-22:53
Harwich Force offered a practical Baltic alternative
Cruisers and destroyers could exploit the shallow Baltic approach and support a German coastal blockade without purpose-building Fisher's fragile large light cruisers.