Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 1:31:37-1:32:10

Should Japan have built larger fleet destroyers before the London Treaty?

A 2,000-to-3,000-ton Fubuki concept could have carried its weapons more safely and pushed rival navies toward larger destroyers.

Fleet DestroyersFletcher Class DestroyersFubuki Class DestroyersImperial Japanese NavyNaval TreatiesShip Stability
Watch at this timeFull video guide
Question

Would Japan have been better building the Fubuki concept as a 2,000-to-3,000-ton fleet destroyer before the London Treaty?

Short answer

Yes. A larger hull could have made the armament workable and forced other navies to respond with larger destroyers.

Notes

Japan could have built the concept as a 2,000-to-3,000-ton fleet destroyer before the London Treaty imposed tighter categories. A larger hull could retain the guns and torpedoes while gaining the beam and volume needed for stability. A successful Japanese design would likely have encouraged other navies to copy or answer it. The American response might have produced an even more formidable path toward the Fletcher class.