Ranges given for most warships gunnery capabilities are what they call the maximum effective range (MER) of the gun. That is defined as the range at which there is a 2% chance of inflicting damage to any given target.

In LH's contest between the German Heavy cruisers and the Renown, by manoeuvre and effectiveness of her gunnery Renown would be able to hold the two lighter armed cruisers off at a range where Renown's armament could inflict damage while the other ship's main armament would be virtually useless.

A similar combat was played out when Graf Spee met three light cruisers off the River Plate. The RN managed to corner the German ship in restricted waters and fool her Commander into believing that a "heavier" force was in the area. The RN ships did engage their enemy but at tremendous cost to themselves, damage inflicted upon the Graf Spee was minimal.