Better all-round self-defence would reduce the number of escorts tied to protecting a capital ship or auxiliary, allowing them to scout, strike, or cover other vulnerabilities. The modern Royal Navy faces a similar allocation problem when it forms carrier and amphibious groups from a limited pool of frigates and destroyers while also protecting resupply ships. Giving auxiliaries missiles, close-in weapons, helicopters, and other basic defences reduces how many escorts must remain permanently attached. Aft armament therefore affects force availability as well as the individual ship's firepower.
Notable Point · 2:24:41-2:31:31
Self-defence can free escorts for the wider fight
The final critique connects the fleet's blind spots to a real naval problem: weak ships consume escorts that could be used elsewhere.