Mixed-purpose destroyer guns covered Claymore's risks

Four Tribal-class destroyers supplied most of Claymore's fighting strength, each carrying a quick-firing 4-inch anti-aircraft gun in place of the X mounting alongside its 4.7-inch battery. HMS Legion carried 4-inch guns throughout and offered a more anti-aircraft-oriented battery. The labels were not absolute: the 4-inch remained useful against light fast vessels such as E-boats, while the 4.7-inch could engage aircraft except on very steep approaches. That flexibility mattered to a small raiding force required to protect itself against several kinds of counterattack.