Destroyer coordination decides the Battle of Texel

The British tactics reflected the recent lesson that a cruiser should not face torpedo-oriented craft without support. The force divided its destroyers between targets while Undaunted helped cripple one boat and maneuvered clear of attacks by two others. German crews continued fighting after bridges and steering gear were destroyed, forcing the British to reduce the boats with sustained gunfire. A torpedo struck HMS Lance amidships but failed to detonate, a fortunate escape for a lightly built destroyer. British ships rescued thirty German sailors before Undaunted finally used her six-inch guns to sink the last wreck that smaller weapons could not finish. Reconnaissance, mutual support, target allocation, and maneuver converted a favorable encounter into a decisive victory.