Guns, torpedoes, and endurance allowed Fletchers to patrol and to screen against air or surface attack. Combining these roles required physical space for the equipment and its operators. That helps explain why the ships grew beyond the size of treaty-limited destroyers. The approximately 2,000-ton design provided room for these duties in one hull. The same space problem applies when several missions are demanded of modern warships.
Notable Point · 14:25-15:22
Patrol and screening duties require room for systems and crews
The Fletcher's size follows from the equipment and people needed for patrols, air defense, and surface screening.