Narvik and rushed destroyer development

Norway, especially Narvik, broke the back of the German destroyer force after years of hurried development. Britain had maintained an almost uninterrupted destroyer production line since the late 1920s or early 1930s, supported by First World War institutional memory and repeated exercises and operations. Even the cruiser-like Tribal class retained weapons suitable for handling on a destroyer platform. Earlier British interest in 5-inch and 5.5-inch guns repeatedly met the objection that the handling demands were unsuitable for destroyers. A counterfactual question remains: would Germany have benefited from building infrastructure and more torpedo boats while waiting to evaluate each destroyer generation at sea? The more mature Type 1936A supports the value of experience, although its improved design also encouraged confidence in the mistaken move to 15 cm guns.