Why destroyers began displacing torpedo boats

Japan's first twelve destroyers came from Yarrow's Ikazuchi class and Thornycroft's Murakumo class, with construction spanning June 1897 to February 1900. Each carried a 12-pounder, five 6-pounders, and two 18-inch torpedo tubes. French torpedo-boat purchases reflected the influence of the Jeune Ecole, but enemy torpedo boats and British reliance on quick-firing guns exposed the limits of a force concentrated on torpedo attacks. Destroyers carried guns to fight enemy torpedo boats and destroyers alongside their own torpedoes. They initially operated with the torpedo boats while offering a route toward replacing them. For a few more crew members, Japan obtained a more versatile ship that suited its preference for vessels with greater individual capability.