The tender asked for 25 knots, a protective deck, 2,000 nautical miles of range, six quick-firing 12-pounders, eight 3-pounders, and two 18-inch torpedo tubes. Several builders could meet that floor, reducing the chance of an unusable design. It also limited ambition at a moment when the Royal Navy knew propulsion was changing. A fast scout was a natural type on which to demand turbines. Eight ships ordered from four firms went well beyond a token experiment, making the conservative specification a substantial missed opportunity.
Notable Point · 39:11-41:59
A cautious specification missed the chance to force turbines
The Royal Navy's conservative tender reduced design risk but failed to push four competing yards toward turbine-powered scouts.