The expected battle site changes the usefulness of older battleships. British pre-dreadnoughts cannot reach Heligoland as quickly as dreadnoughts, but they can reinforce a battle whose location is already known and face German pre-dreadnoughts on comparable terms. Their numbers add weight to a contest in which Britain intends to commit every available force rather than preserve ships for a later fleet action. If the Royal Navy tries to force the Kiel Canal after victory, these older ships are also more expendable than its newest dreadnoughts.
Notable Point · 1:36:07-1:37:23
Why pre-dreadnoughts regain value at Heligoland
A fixed, close-range battle lets Britain bring older pre-dreadnoughts into the fight as reinforcements and reserve them for especially hazardous work near the Kiel Canal.