The forty ships later grouped as C class were built between 1896 and 1902 and combined three funnels with a broad 30-knot requirement. Their stated speeds ranged up to 36½ knots, so membership of the administrative class did not imply identical performance. John Brown supplied several batches, while Earle's at Hull built the Bullfinch class and Doxford at Sunderland built the Violet class. Displacement was typically around 370 tons, with a stated range of about 345-445 long tons. A quick-firing 12-pounder, five six-pounders and two 18-inch torpedo tubes continued the familiar armament. Some specials used steam turbines. These early trials support the argument that turbines could have entered wider service sooner, although the Navy's extensive testing also helps explain its caution. Some ships had left service before World War I.
Notable Point · 24:35-27:18
C-class 30-knotters and the case for earlier turbine adoption
Forty three-funnel destroyers combined standard armament with varied performance and early turbine trials, raising the question of how long the Navy needed to test new machinery.