A decisive Dogger Bank could become the main North Sea fleet action of the war. If it prevented a later battle resembling Jutland, the Royal Navy would lose an important source of experience. Night fighting is the specific example used for lessons that shaped preparations for the Second World War. An earlier success could therefore improve the immediate strategic position while leaving later operational weaknesses unexposed. The warning depends on a Jutland-like encounter actually being avoided.
Notable Point · 1:54:28-1:55:46
The cost of missing Jutland's lessons
A victory that prevents a Jutland-like battle could leave later navies without some of its hard-earned operational lessons.