A flotilla defence strategy also has to account for an enemy adopting the same approach. Two defensive flotillas could each wait for the other to enter the engagement they wanted. In this scenario, Britain could establish flotillas around the world and spend more on its navy because it did not face France's continental land-defence commitments. Those overseas forces would create problems for French cruisers operating against trade. Adopting the same small-ship strategy would therefore leave Britain with advantages that French planners still needed to address.
Notable Point · 1:26:46-1:27:27
What happens when both navies choose flotilla defence?
If both navies wait for an attack on their flotillas, Britain's greater naval spending can still place small forces in the path of French commerce raiders.