Q&A · 12:02-13:57

What the 1944 G-class destroyers were for

They would have filled an intermediate size category suited to yards unable to build the largest fleet destroyers and could have supported useful Cold War conversions.

Question

What if the Royal Navy's 1944 G-class destroyers had been built?

Short answer

They would have filled an intermediate size category suited to yards unable to build the largest fleet destroyers and could have supported useful Cold War conversions.

Notes

Details of the 1944 G-class proposal are limited; it is described here as an improved Weapon-class design. These ships would occupy the space between large fleet destroyers and the smaller wartime classes built in the widest range of yards. Intermediate destroyers let shipyards contribute efficiently when they could not accommodate the growing Tribal, Battle, and Daring classes. If the Pacific war had continued, more of these ships would probably have entered service. After the war, the Royal Navy would likely sell the smaller destroyers and retain the intermediate and larger ships. Their extra scope for adaptation could then support more Cold War conversions.