The Tribal destroyer as a fleet's forward screen

The Tribals acted as the Royal Navy's 'back pocket cruisers', able to provide gunfire support, fight enemy destroyers, and threaten larger ships with torpedoes. Small destroyer complements demanded broad competence, while junior officers took responsibility for duties that larger ships could divide among more specialists. Tribal crews were then told they formed the elite of that destroyer force and the fleet's forward spear point. Their role required them to lead the screen and protect the force even at exceptional risk. At Narvik, Eskimo continued around the fjord after a torpedo destroyed her bow so she could cover the destroyers behind her. Nubian's move between an air strike and a carrier off Crete shows the same crew culture in action.