The Tribal class shows how machinery savings can become combat capability as well as speed. The Royal Navy already had a twin 4.7-inch dual-purpose mounting under development, but its weight made four mounts impractical in the historical design. Gas turbines could allow four high-angle twins on the Tribals and three on the later J, K, and N classes. Standardizing that weapon would strengthen destroyer antiaircraft fire and reduce the wartime pressure to substitute separate 4-inch guns.
Notable Point · 1:08:21-1:13:33
Machinery savings unlock dual-purpose destroyer guns
The turbine-powered Tribal design can carry the heavier high-angle 4.7-inch mounting that historical displacement limits excluded.