Growing early destroyers lost turtleback bows and acquired more substantial superstructures and larger torpedoes. Their weapon arrangement also expressed a balance of roles. Torpedoes still received favorable positions, but guns needed clear, workable locations because gun action mattered too. A torpedo boat arranged the vessel around easy torpedo operation, with its guns receiving secondary consideration. This distinction helps explain why displacement alone cannot settle the classification.
Notable Point · 40:58-43:02
Gun positions help distinguish a destroyer from a torpedo boat
Destroyers needed effective gun positions as well as torpedoes; torpedo boats gave their torpedo battery overriding priority.