Cable locates some wartime naval shortages in mistaken expectations about the conflict, as well as technical errors and resource constraints. Before the First World War, both British and German naval leaders had received substantial political support for their programmes. Germany's battle fleet nevertheless lacked a workable answer when Britain imposed a distant blockade instead of the close blockade anticipated by German planning. That left the fleet unable to reach the system it had been built to defeat. Cable also criticises Britain's failure to anticipate submarine warfare against trade and its delayed return to convoy and escort.
Notable Point · 1:47:44-1:49:18
A battle fleet built for a blockade that never came
Cable argues that German planning expected a close blockade, while British planning underestimated the submarine threat to trade.