What if the German fleet ambush became a brawl?

How could German torpedo boats cope if the planned fleet ambush became a prolonged brawl?

They would need to fight through British destroyers and their strong light-cruiser support, a task for which Germany lacked enough comparable screening ships.

A battle that became a brawl would force German torpedo boats to fight off British destroyers. Those destroyers could also draw on extensive light-cruiser support. Germany's limited cruiser construction left it short of comparable assistance for its own boats. That prospect demanded changes in the light forces Germany built, since a quick torpedo strike alone would not answer the threat.