A ship can be too powerful for the opening stage of a confrontation. Sending or surfacing a submarine resembles dispatching a battleship in an earlier era because it reveals a potent denial weapon and leaves little space for further escalation. An opponent pushed too hard may fight for honor or begin planning retaliation even if the immediate crisis subsides. A balanced presence fleet therefore needs several levels of visible capability so governments can increase pressure while preserving diplomatic off-ramps.
Notable Point · 56:10-58:07
Presence needs room to escalate without forcing war
A presence ship should be credible without being so threatening that it traps an opponent or leaves no stronger signal short of combat.