River-class seakeeping, range and the weight of fuel

Reports informing the River-class requirements included those of the Mediterranean Fleet's senior destroyer officer in 1900. Experience with the earlier fast types had shown the need for ships that could keep up with the fleet in rough weather. The River class, later E class, answered a requirement for 1,650 nautical miles at 18 knots. Its nominal top speed of 25½ knots was lower than the 30-knot types, but stronger, more seaworthy ships could overtake them when conditions deteriorated. The Rivers retained the 12-pounder and six-pounder guns and two 18-inch torpedo tubes familiar from the earlier types. A heavy fuel load imposed another constraint: speed improved as the ships burned fuel and became lighter.