Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 3:14:58-3:16:19

How Daring-class destroyers might fare in a Guadalcanal night fight

Radar, maneuverability, and rapid 4.5-inch guns would make postwar destroyers formidable at Guadalcanal despite Japan's superior torpedoes.

Daring Class Destroyers (1949)DestroyersForrest Sherman Class DestroyersGuadalcanal CampaignNaval Gunnery
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Question

How would Forrest Sherman and Daring-class destroyers fare in the 1942 battles around Guadalcanal?

Short answer

Both would be formidable with radar, but the Daring's 4.5-inch battery could make it especially dangerous despite weaker torpedoes.

Notes

A Forrest Sherman-class destroyer with a 1942-quality radar fit would perform far better than contemporary ships at Guadalcanal. Its firepower and maneuverability would be valuable, while the British Daring class is presented as the more dangerous counterfactual. The Darings could not match the Japanese Type 93 torpedo, yet their postwar 4.5-inch guns were exceptionally capable. In a confused night action, modern radar and rapid fire could change the engagement before the torpedo advantage was fully exploited.