Interwar navies responded to air power by adding anti-aircraft capability to the destroyers already screening their fleets. Guns dealt with small surface craft, torpedoes threatened heavier ships, and ASDIC with depth charges addressed submarines. Larger torpedo spreads were harder for an opponent to evade by combing their tracks, improving the prospects of hits. The destroyer's purpose was to buy battleships, cruisers and carriers enough time to perform their own missions.
Chapter · 1:16:33-1:19:52
Interwar destroyers became general-purpose fleet screens
Destroyers combined guns, torpedoes, ASDIC, and depth charges to buy the fleet time against every major avenue of attack.