Why destroyer guns shield and torpedoes strike

Interwar destroyer guns defended the screen against smaller vessels, while torpedoes supplied the offensive weapon against larger ships. Rapid-firing guns could overwhelm unarmored destroyers and torpedo boats, whose smaller crews and limited internal routes made fires harder to contain. Guns of roughly 4.5 to 5.5 inches could damage a cruiser's exposed sensors or start deck fires, but were less likely to penetrate protected spaces and sink it. Torpedoes could open underwater holes that were difficult to contain. Breaking a ship's back still sinks it through flooding when the broken hull admits water. In this comparison, larger Royal Navy destroyers emphasized guns and gun stability, while American, Japanese, French, and Italian designs placed more weight on torpedoes.