Helicopter facilities revealed a ship's anti-submarine priority

The space and support assigned to equipment reveal what a warship is expected to do. In an anti-submarine ship, helicopter facilities and the flight deck might occupy about a third of the vessel, leaving less room for missiles and guns. A ship can consequently appear lightly armed because so much of its volume supports aviation. Placing weapons above the hangar may require arrangements that reduce its height or otherwise limit helicopter facilities. Preserving that space is a deliberate mission choice, and the same attention to equipment arrangement helps distinguish early destroyers from torpedo boats.