The action shows why a capital ship's gun advantage does not remove the danger posed by smaller torpedo-armed opponents. Closing with HMS Canada may win the immediate fight while leaving the attacker too damaged to escape, and French light cruisers exploit the range at which torpedoes can threaten the damaged battleship. The campaign separates tactical victory from force preservation: losing one battleship is costly for Britain, while losing two is potentially terminal for the much weaker French fleet. The sequence explains why escorts, maneuver, and damage control remain important even in an apparently one-sided gun engagement.
Notable Point · 1:20:03-1:28:28
Torpedoes reverse a lopsided battleship action
A battle that looks overwhelmingly favorable still places HMS Canada at risk when lighter French forces close to torpedo range.