This passage moves from individual ship quality to the arithmetic of fleet attrition. German destroyers could fight courageously and inflict painful losses, yet the Royal Navy judged those losses against a much larger pool of ships and resources. An exchange could therefore be unwelcome for Britain while still being strategically acceptable and disastrous for Germany. Competent commanders seek to minimize casualties, but no serious war plan can assume a bloodless victory. Fleet size and replacement capacity matter more than a single ship-to-ship result.
Notable Point · 6:47-8:20
Why exchange ratios depend on the whole fleet
German destroyers needed a much better exchange ratio because the Royal Navy could accept losses that its smaller opponent could not replace.