A technical method is not a complete strategy

The final argument asks what happens when an opponent refuses the expected battle, protects trade with stronger forces, or develops effective counters to torpedo craft. In this reading, the doctrine appealed to states that wanted a navy but could not or would not fund the force their wider strategy required. Its operational plan also assumes an obliging enemy that exposes its battle fleet before French armoured cruisers attack commerce. The closing comparison notes that modern offsets often pursue high technology to reduce casualties, which steadily raises their technological and financial cost. The durable lesson is that weapons and tactics must serve a defined strategic purpose, with sustained research needed when an offset begins to lose its edge.