Larger destroyer concepts could have combined Tribal gun power with ten torpedoes, but they would have consumed material needed for sloops, cruisers, and King George V-class battleships. By the time the J and K ships were being laid down in 1937 and early 1938, treaty restrictions and the Treasury's resistance to expansion were receding. Admiral Henderson could obtain money, while steel production and construction infrastructure limited how much could be built at once. At 1,720 tons standard and 2,370 tons deep load, the 36-knot J class was still a substantial destroyer. Its size balanced several construction programs against finite industrial capacity. Larger L-class designs became practical as that infrastructure expanded.
Chapter · 8:55-13:33
The J class compromise was industrial capacity
The J design's limits reflected competition for steel and shipyard resources during rearmament more than treaty rules or an inability to secure funds.