Were the Archer class destroyers?

Were the Archer class destroyers?

No. They were torpedo cruisers designed as affordable, long-range replacements for overseas sloops.

The Archer class were officially torpedo cruisers, not destroyers. The Royal Navy expected them to replace sloops while retaining cruiser range and presence. Their roughly 1,800-ton design combined a 17.5-knot forced-draught speed with a 7,000-nautical-mile cruising range. Six-inch guns let them dominate smaller craft, while five 14-inch torpedo tubes threatened larger opponents. The classification therefore reflected a built-down cruiser intended for distant service rather than a direct ancestor of the later destroyer.