Why write about destroyers before cruisers?

If cruisers are a favorite, why was the first book about destroyers?

The surrounding subjects need fuller treatment, and filling gaps in naval history takes priority over writing immediately about a favorite ship type.

Alex Clarke chooses book subjects partly according to gaps in the existing naval literature. Numerous cruiser books already exist, while the surrounding subjects need fuller treatment before he writes his own. His proposed sloop book concerns vessels that assisted cruisers, and his doctoral research covers the development of aircraft carriers and naval aircraft. Those choices reflect an interest in naval strategy and warfare across several ship types, even though cruisers remain a personal favorite.