Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 6:59:13-7:02:30

A destroyer's speed and choice of battle against España

Superior speed allows the destroyer to avoid the battleship's preferred conditions and seek a night attack.

Alternate HistoryDestroyer TacticsEspaña Class BattleshipsNight OperationsTribal Class Destroyers (1936)
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Question

Could España defeat a Tribal or Daring destroyer in a hypothetical engagement?

Short answer

It would need favourable daylight conditions and effective early hits; the faster destroyer could avoid that encounter and seek a night torpedo attack.

Notes

The hypothetical match pits España against a Tribal or Daring destroyer. The battleship's case depends on getting useful hits before the destroyer can deliver its torpedoes. The destroyer has no reason to accept a close daylight action on those terms: its speed allows it to withdraw and wait for darkness. Choosing when to engage therefore matters as much as comparing the weapons carried by the two ships.