Racing as an unofficial destroyer tradition

Did navies other than the postwar US Navy race their ships against one another?

Yes. Informal racing was widespread naval behavior, especially among destroyer crews.

The exchange uses humor, but the historical point is clear: fast-ship crews routinely compared performance when circumstances allowed. Destroyers encouraged this culture because speed, machinery handling, and crew confidence were central to their identity. The moment offers a glimpse of fleet life beyond formal doctrine and published trial figures.