Why 1907 destroyers were short-range response ships

Early destroyers were not designed to remain at sea for long patrols in every weather. Their job was to sortie quickly, escort or screen a fleet, attack an enemy, or patrol a limited area before returning to port. North Sea and North Atlantic conditions pushed the Royal Navy toward larger hulls than Baltic-centered testing might suggest. By contrast, the larger 1936 Tribal class helped move destroyers toward cruiser-style presence duties as well as fleet work. This operational context explains why judging the 1907 Tribals by modern range and endurance standards gives a misleading result.