Why ASW officers valued pairs of Hunt-class escorts

Why might a wartime anti-submarine officer prefer two Hunt-class destroyers to one fleet destroyer?

Two Hunts provided practical ASW cover and were less likely to be diverted, while a fleet destroyer could be called away for torpedo attacks or an anti-aircraft gun line.

A fleet destroyer could hunt submarines, but its broader armament made diversion to other duties likely. Two Hunt-class escorts gave an ASW commander more hulls and steadier local cover. Their specialization made them less likely to be called away for a torpedo attack or an anti-aircraft gun line. A viewer's recollection of wartime officers' preferences thus leads to a distinction between a ship's capabilities and its availability for a particular task. Fleet destroyers remained capable ASW vessels, while a scarce general-purpose combatant was difficult to rely on for continuous escort work.