Q&A ยท 3:47:33-3:48:59

Double-displacement destroyer leaders under treaty rules

How a treaty allowance for 3,000-ton destroyer leaders might enlarge Tribal-style designs and their torpedo batteries.

Question

What if the London treaty allowed destroyer leaders with twice a normal destroyer's displacement?

Short answer

Designs would resemble enlarged Tribals, with extra displacement likely spent on more torpedo armament.

Notes

The panel uses the Tribal class as the nearest historical reference, then scales the concept toward roughly 3,000 tons. Britain might retain the gun battery and add torpedo launchers, while American and Japanese designers would probably exploit the extra displacement for still more torpedoes. Treaty wording would thus create a distinct large-leader niche rather than merely a modestly enlarged destroyer. The national answers differ because each navy would spend the allowance according to its own surface-combat doctrine and preferred weapon balance.