European and Mediterranean coastal forces evolved under different pressures from those in the Baltic, Black Sea, and Pacific. The European and Mediterranean path began with scouting and anti-submarine work, then added torpedo attacks against major ships. As fast craft increasingly hunted convoys, defenders needed enough rapid-firing weapons to stop them before they reached merchant traffic. Large warships could not cover every coastal convoy, so navies developed their own small gun-heavy craft to intercept the attackers. The Pacific, Baltic, and Black Sea reached a similar emphasis on guns through riverine warfare, island operations, landing-craft escort, and ground support. The hardware converged, but the operational causes differed.
Chapter · 1:12-5:06
Why European torpedo boats became gunboats
The European and Mediterranean story begins with anti-submarine and torpedo duties, then shifts toward convoy fighting and rapid-fire guns.