Sloops emphasized range, economical steaming, minesweeping, and anti-submarine work. Those characteristics suited them to forward-deployed presence and convoy escort. High-speed fleet operations still required destroyers. The sloop's treaty definition held it to about twenty knots, below the speed needed to accompany a battle fleet. Even full-sized destroyers struggled to keep station with major warships in poor weather, making the slower escort unsuitable for that mission.
Chapter · 49:23-50:34
Why unlimited sloops cannot replace destroyers
Treaty-exempt sloops could protect convoys and conduct ASW, but their 20-knot design ceiling prevented them from screening a fast battle fleet.