Q&A · 2:28:42-2:28:53

What Britain gained from Destroyers for Bases

The fifty transferred American destroyers were useful because they performed the escort and patrol work Britain urgently needed from them.

Question

How useful were the fifty American destroyers transferred to Britain, and was the deal worthwhile?

Short answer

They were useful and did the jobs Britain needed, making the agreement worthwhile.

Notes

The fifty destroyers are judged useful because they did the work Britain asked of them. Their performance in those assigned roles makes the agreement worthwhile in this assessment. No detailed comparison of costs or alternatives accompanies that judgement.