Bridgewater-class survey and presence work

The two 1,045-ton Bridgewater-class sloops carried two four-inch guns and were built for the Persian Gulf, yet spent much of their service in the South China Sea. HMS Bridgewater could exchange her guns for survey equipment or protect survey ships exposed to pirate attack. Later Hastings and Shoreham designs kept the emphasis on long-range endurance rather than battle speed, allowing small crews to sustain distant stations. Destroyers were built to fight battles; sloops helped the Navy manage the peace through survey work, protection, and diplomacy.