HMS Fox shows why small cruisers could remain dangerous long after their design generation had passed. In 1919 the Astraea-class ship was covering a former Russian battleship despite being far smaller and older. Her four loaded 18-inch torpedo tubes could be brought to bear with a modest maneuver. Torpedo armament gave a second-class protected cruiser asymmetric leverage over a capital ship.
Notable Point · 2:17:03-2:17:29
How HMS Fox could hold a battleship at risk in 1919
Four loaded 18-inch torpedo tubes let an ageing Astraea-class cruiser threaten a much larger former Russian battleship.