Q&A · 12:51-13:59

Invincible changed commerce-raider calculations

A comparison with Dreadnought shows why Invincible's speed and heavy guns posed an especially disruptive problem for commerce-raiding navies.

Question

Did Invincible change commerce protection and commerce raiding more than Dreadnought changed the battle line?

Short answer

Invincible created a severe global counter-raider problem, while even Dreadnought's older opponents were disadvantaged because her speed let her choose how and when to fight.

Notes

Invincible may have changed commerce warfare more dramatically than Dreadnought because few foreign ships could catch and defeat a British battlecruiser operating in the Atlantic or Pacific. Several pre-dreadnoughts might threaten Dreadnought, but her speed would still let her choose the engagement and cross their line. Speed was a strategic advantage because it determined whether an opponent could force battle, protect trade, or safely send out raiders.