Why surface raiding needs numbers

Tests with different match-ups in UAD and SpringSharp suggest that surface raiding works better when ships can hunt in pairs or remain within supporting distance. Extra light ships, including a simulated Tribal-class destroyer, make the lone heavy raider's problem worse. Pairing German raiders against four British light cruisers produces a harder contest that the German force sometimes wins, illustrating the tactical value of mutual support without treating the simulation as deterministic history. A single heavy raider may force an opponent to keep forces ready, but it may not deliver enough operational effect to justify the resources consumed. The same line of reasoning connects the Second World War's naval balance to industrial capability inherited from the First World War. Ships, repair capacity, armour production, and supply chains all matter alongside the tactical performance of one hull.