Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 30:34-31:04

Why Canadian and Australian Tribals served longer

Later commissioning and lighter early-war use gave Commonwealth Tribals a different survival record from the original Royal Navy group.

Royal Australian NavyRoyal Canadian NavyRoyal NavyTribal Class Destroyers (1936)World War II
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Question

Why did Canadian and Australian Tribal-class destroyers serve much longer than the Royal Navy ships?

Short answer

They were generally newer and had missed the punishing early-war service in which the Royal Navy lost most of its Tribals.

Notes

Most Canadian and Australian Tribal-class destroyers entered service later than their Royal Navy counterparts. Many did not arrive until about 1942, after the British ships had already endured years of intensive operations. By then the Royal Navy had lost twelve of its sixteen Tribals. Their longer Commonwealth careers reflect age and exposure as much as any difference in national operation or design.