Q&A · 3:23:02

When a destroyer gains a realistic chance against Dreadnought

Night detection and torpedo tactics can let a much smaller destroyer attack a battleship that cannot effectively find it.

Question

What is the earliest destroyer that could defeat HMS Dreadnought one-on-one?

Short answer

A radar-equipped night fighter could do it, with some well-trained interwar British destroyers also having a plausible torpedo opportunity.

Notes

The decisive change is not raw gun power but the ability to acquire and engage the target at night. Radar-equipped destroyers have that asymmetry, while well-trained interwar Royal Navy A- and B-class boats might also exploit established night-fighting doctrine.