Project J was fast enough for the capital ships it would escort

Project J was probably the most reasonable of the 1937 escort studies for its tonnage, speed, and room for improvement, especially if Germany pursued diesel propulsion. Later iterations retained broadly similar power while becoming heavier and less efficient. A 36-knot escort could already manoeuvre around Bismarck or Tirpitz at about 30 knots and the Scharnhorst class at about 31 knots. Its job was to maintain contact and screen a capital ship, so it did not need to outrun the fastest French light cruisers or fight every possible opponent alone. Fuel capacity remained a weakness, but that limitation did not justify postponing an otherwise useful escort in pursuit of a universal solution.