Warships commonly operate in fleets, squadrons, convoys, and task groups, despite the familiar image of a ship acting alone. A second ship provides combat support and rescue capacity if its partner is damaged. A Star Trek aside applies that support problem to fictional exploration: a lone ship has no partner ready to rescue its crew or investigate more cautiously. In a torpedo attack, two destroyers can fire from different bearings so that turning to comb one salvo exposes the target to the other. Bow damage can also be more survivable than losing steering and propulsion at the stern, as HMS Eskimo's loss of her bow at Narvik illustrates. Turning toward the torpedoes can therefore be preferable for a small group. Jellicoe's decision to turn away involved different calculations in a large fleet action.
Notable Point · 24:45-29:32
Paired destroyers create mutual support and torpedo traps
Destroyers usually fight in groups because a pair can divide enemy fire, rescue survivors, and launch crossing torpedo salvos that deny an easy evasive turn.