Goeben's ability to outrun the Mediterranean force made the historical pursuit difficult even before command failures entered the picture. Lion was faster than the German ship and materially more powerful than the available armoured cruisers, so she could either defeat Goeben alone or prevent escape with support from other British vessels. This case did not depend entirely on hindsight: a breakout into the Atlantic, Ottoman service, or Austro-Hungarian support were all dangerous outcomes. Lion could serve as a temporary reinforcement without permanently weakening the Grand Fleet.
Notable Point · 16:09-19:46
Why Lion changes the pursuit of Goeben
Lion's speed and firepower could let one British battlecruiser challenge Goeben in a way the existing Mediterranean cruisers could not.