Q&A ยท 4:53:38-4:54:46

Fletcher and Tribal destroyers together in the Mediterranean

The proposed Fletcher-Tribal combination prompts a comparison with the close-range destroyer ambush at Cape Bon.

Question

What would happen if the Mediterranean Fleet received many Fletcher-class destroyers?

Short answer

They are expected to form a dangerous combination with Tribal-class destroyers and inflict severe losses on Italian surface forces.

Notes

Fletchers operating with Tribal-class destroyers are expected to form a dangerous combination against Italian surface forces. Cape Bon provides the example of what an aggressive destroyer attack could achieve. The approaching destroyers came from the inshore side while the Italian ships watched the open sea. In the account given, two destroyers struck the two cruisers at such short range that the other two destroyers had little opportunity to engage.