Torpedo boat destroyers as fleet screens

Before World War I, official thinking generally referred to torpedo boat destroyers, though sailors already shortened the name. Their role was to defend a manoeuvring fleet and extend where it could operate. The Royal Navy's willingness to commission varied designs also challenged Jeune École claims for torpedo-boat warfare. Confidence in the numbers already being built and the capacity to order more gave the Navy room to experiment. The later letter classes often grouped ships by broad characteristics for administrative convenience, even when their builders had used different designs. Specifications set minimum capabilities and left substantial freedom to private yards. A lower speed in calm-water trials could be acceptable if a stronger ship retained more speed in rough weather.