North Cape as an example of mutual support

The Second World War comparison assigns different jobs to cruisers, destroyers, and the smaller escorts that supply fleet numbers. Heavier ships provide firepower that an opponent cannot safely ignore while trying to attack the lighter vessels. The smaller ships also contribute, so concentrating on the heavy unit leaves other threats in play. North Cape supplies the concrete example: Scharnhorst faced Duke of York together with cruisers and destroyers. The whole force supplies overlapping protection and threats, so a specialised escort's requirements depend on the ships around it.