Continuous air operations create a proactive defense

British doctrine emphasized a continuous air presence suited to attacks arriving from many directions. Fighters, bombers, and patrol aircraft would break formations apart, force submarines underwater, and scatter destroyers or motor torpedo boats. Even an attack that scored no hit could succeed by making light forces maneuver, lose cohesion, and arrive piecemeal. The fleet's guns could then defeat smaller, uncoordinated threats in sequence. Large night strikes against an enemy fleet or harbor belonged within this broader offensively defensive system.