Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 1:10:28-1:11:04

The uncertain evidence for Royal Navy torpedo reloads

Official tables rarely show reloads outside cruisers, but Tribal-class combat expenditure suggests a less tidy reality.

CruisersRoyal NavyTorpedoesTribal Class Destroyers (1936)World War II
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Question

Did Royal Navy ships carry torpedo reloads?

Short answer

Officially, few did outside cruisers, but Tribal-class action reports suggest some destroyers carried reloads despite the formal tables.

Notes

Cruisers were the main Royal Navy ships officially associated with torpedo reloads. Tribal-class actions nevertheless include ships listed with four torpedoes firing six or seven, which implies that practical reload arrangements may have existed despite the formal position. Operational records complicate the paper establishments.