Designers in the 1920s could not fully predict the air threat of 1940, yet the Turbine class had little room to grow once aircraft, anti-aircraft weapons, and escort duties became central. Its nominally general-purpose 4.7-inch guns and light anti-aircraft battery met the paper requirement better than wartime needs. Pack tactics also offered less protection when ships operated and were sunk in pairs, since a pair could not provide the mutual support of a larger group. Treaty-era destroyers needed enough displacement and flexibility to accept the weapons and roles a future war might demand.
Notable Point · 19:10-21:22
Why destroyers needed room to grow
The Turbine class had too little margin for stronger anti-aircraft defences and broader escort duties.