The class had no armour belt. The lack of portholes around the machinery spaces may indicate slightly thicker steel there, although that remains an inference. A top speed of about 19.25 knots made the Egrets markedly slower than destroyers, while they carried eight 4-inch guns in four twin mounts. Two twin mounts forward and two aft echoed the gun-focused layout of the Tribal-class destroyers. The initial light armament also included a quadruple machine-gun mounting, with wartime changes following as threats evolved. The result was a sloop with enough armament and control equipment to protect convoys, without a destroyer's speed or protection.
Chapter · 6:49-11:09
A small escort built around eight 4-inch guns
The Egrets traded speed and armour for a concentrated four-twin 4-inch battery and fire-control equipment suited to convoy air defence.