Russian destroyers were among the strongest designs built before 1914. Novik briefly became the world's fastest warship, and later subclasses retained high speed with heavy torpedo armament. Their doctrine drew on Port Arthur: minefields and shore batteries would disrupt an attacker, then battleships and cruisers would cover a fast destroyer attack. This inverted Jeune École system gave the light forces a heavy fallback. Russian yards built forty-nine ships derived from Novik, continued adapting them for local service, and used public donations to ease some of the budget pressure.
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Fast destroyers and the lessons Russia drew from Port Arthur
Russia's strong destroyer designs fit a doctrine of mines, shore batteries, heavy ships, and a rapid finishing attack.