The Tribal requirement had a powerful sponsor in Third Sea Lord Reginald Henderson. Foreign navies were building large destroyers crowded with torpedoes and light guns, while the Royal Navy already expected mass torpedo attacks to come from groups of torpedo-armed ships. Henderson used the extra displacement for a gun-heavy vessel capable of light-cruiser-like work and independent duties. Rear Admiral (Destroyers) still tended to choose a cruiser as a flagship, but the new design could undertake many of the separate deployments for which cruisers were normally required.
Notable Point · 4:47-7:23
Henderson and the Royal Navy case for the Tribal class
Third Sea Lord Reginald Henderson sponsored the Tribal requirement and used its displacement for gun power and independent duties instead of copying foreign torpedo-heavy super-destroyers.