Destroyer leaders as treaty-efficient flotilla command ships

The 16 percent allowance for destroyers above 1,500 tons almost exactly matched a Royal Navy flotilla of eight or nine standard destroyers plus a purpose-built leader. Existing oversized ships could remain, but navies could build no more until their fleets fell within the percentage. Britain used destroyer leaders for flotilla command instead of spending light-cruiser tonnage on a cruiser to lead the formation. Their extra space held the commander, staff, and facilities that ordinary destroyers lacked. Their heavier guns also helped protect the flotilla as it closed to torpedo range, a command-and-fire-support logic linked in the discussion to the Tribal class.