Only a few British armoured cruisers were based in the Mediterranean because the type was more useful on wider imperial stations. Against Goeben, an armoured cruiser was an unattractive gamble, whereas pre-dreadnoughts could at least impose damaging resistance. Breslau was a more plausible opponent, but even that contest threatened heavy damage to both sides. The armoured cruiser had been an earlier counterpart to the battlecruiser, then changes in speed, range, and capital-ship power overtook it.
Notable Point · 39:01-48:14
The Mediterranean needed faster scouts or heavier ships
By 1914, the theatre rewarded light cruisers that could evade and battleships that could fight, leaving armoured cruisers between roles.