Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 41:55-43:35

How the Royal Navy planned to replace V/W-class destroyers and flotilla leaders

The V/W-class destroyers and Scott- and Shakespeare-class leaders would be replaced through the Royal Navy's continuing annual batches rather than one named fleet-renewal program.

Force StructureInterwar PeriodNaval ProcurementRoyal NavyScott Class Destroyer LeadersShakespeare Class Destroyer LeadersV And W Class Destroyers
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Question

How did the Royal Navy plan to replace its V/W-class destroyers and Scott- and Shakespeare-class destroyer leaders?

Short answer

Through continuing batches of new destroyers, with each batch similar to or evolved from the last.

Notes

The Royal Navy planned to replace its older destroyers and flotilla leaders through continuing batches of new ships. It already had a planning department and ordered another destroyer batch almost every year. An illustrative batch of eighteen could be followed by eighteen similar or evolved ships as the fleet rotated through replacements. That steady process gave a large established navy less need for the conspicuous long-term expansion plans associated with some other navies.