Congress considered large torpedo boats a cheaper substitute for destroyers, and Farragut shows what that choice produced. At 283 tons, she was about 65 metres long, 6.3 metres in beam, and slightly over 2 metres in draft. She could make 30 knots and carried four 6-pounder guns with two 18-inch torpedoes. Her hull, stability, and operations centered on delivering a torpedo attack. Service around the Panama Canal suited her as a local defensive asset. The American battle fleet depended on survival and deterrence to protect American interests, which made destroyers better suited to preserving the force. The two types looked similar, but their missions led to different fleet structures.
Notable Point · 4:04-6:52
Why Farragut could not replace a destroyer
The large torpedo boat Farragut was fast and useful for local defence, but she could not provide the screening functions the US battle fleet needed.