Destroyer service exposed junior officers to navigation, engineering, gunnery, and operations while giving them responsibility unusually early. With few officers aboard, even a midshipman could stand a watch that would ordinarily fall to someone more senior in a cruiser or battleship. Officers therefore gained both knowledge of different shipboard jobs and experience making decisions in charge of them. Destroyer work was dangerous, and vacancies arose when senior officers advanced or were killed. Together, these conditions created opportunities for rapid professional development and promotion.
Notable Point · 17:58-21:00
Destroyers as a school of command
Small destroyers gave junior officers broad technical knowledge, early watchkeeping duties, and experience exercising command.