Secondary fire deters torpedo attack

The enemy battleship's secondary battery shapes the whole engagement. HMS Prince of Wales circles to preserve the preferred range, while a tempting cruiser torpedo attack is rejected because the secondary guns would probably destroy the attacker before the torpedoes paid off. At close range, the volume of fire could start deck fires, obscure the battleship's own shooting, and reduce her combat ability. Keeping the cruiser nearby also protects HMS Prince of Wales against a sudden threat, treating the screen as part of a defensive system rather than a disposable torpedo platform.