Britain, France, Italy, and Germany all faced choices between a large destroyer and a small cruiser. British and Italian solutions retained destroyer armament in larger ships. Britain's Tribal class also borrowed a cruiser-like appearance: the interrupted line of portholes suggested an armor belt, especially when seen at night. The British requirement emphasized diplomatic presence and reconnaissance, while French and Italian requirements reflected their Mediterranean rivalry. Germany expected its heavily armed destroyers to kill enemy destroyers and help cover the shortage of light cruisers. Their destroyer hulls and stability still limited how effectively they could fight as cruisers.
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What large destroyers were expected to do for different navies
Britain's Tribal class filled diplomatic and reconnaissance roles, while German large destroyers were expected to compensate for a shortage of light cruisers.