The 1933 design study began under Controller Admiral Sir Charles Forbes while the Admiralty considered a new light cruiser and a larger destroyer. Admiral Sir William Wordsworth Fisher and other senior opponents still defined destroyers chiefly as torpedo attackers and objected to trading one torpedo installation for more guns. A wartime officer later described HMS Tartar as powerful, majestic, and visibly built to attack. The description captures why the completed ship made such a strong impression. The debate centered on whether destroyers should remain specialist torpedo craft or assume a wider range of combat duties.
Chapter · 16:19-18:38
Why a large gun destroyer faced resistance
The 1933 study that led toward the Tribal and Dido classes met senior resistance because many officers still defined destroyers chiefly as torpedo attackers.