The Archers sat between famous battleships and the later destroyer types that inherited parts of their mission. Their 14-inch torpedoes made closing with them dangerous even for a larger opponent because a hit could still cause serious damage. Against smaller craft, six quick-firing 6-inch guns with useful fields of fire promised a punishing response. One design could therefore threaten ships above its weight and overpower craft below it. This combination makes the class an 1880s precursor to the interwar general-purpose destroyer.
Chapter · 11:34-12:09
A precursor to the general-purpose destroyer
The Archer class combined torpedoes that threatened larger opponents with guns capable of overpowering smaller craft, an early general-purpose formula.