Balancing technology, mines, and fleet finances

Armed merchant cruisers have substantially reduced British transport losses in the campaign. Research continues into coastal submarines and active minefields, treating commerce protection and sea denial as connected parts of fleet development. A communications advance is attractive because it permits larger fleets, but every new capability competes for the same monthly budget. Technology is therefore a financial choice instead of an automatic progression. Research, construction, and operations remain useful only when income can sustain them together.