The 3,500-ton leader design shows the practical value of a longitudinal bulkhead through the machinery spaces. A torpedo hit may flood one side and make the ship heel, but the intact side retains buoyancy and may preserve engines, electrical power, and personnel able to conduct damage control. The centerline structure also reinforces the keel and prevents water from sweeping freely across the full beam. Additional deck-level subdivision limits upward and lengthwise spread. The greater displacement buys survivability and space for weapons, while a speed of roughly 36 to 40 knots preserves the mobility these leaders still need.
Notable Point · 44:44-46:19
Longitudinal bulkheads contain flooding but create a heel
The large destroyer counterfactual shows why centerline subdivision can preserve buoyancy and machinery after a torpedo hit despite asymmetric flooding.