The I class concludes the first postwar line of development from Amazon, with torpedo attack still the leading design requirement. Hull arrangement and weight distribution had to support turning the ship to bring launchers to bear. Structure ahead of the torpedo positions sheltered crews during the approach while they prepared their weapons. Weapons, ship design, and command conditions together made aggressive initiative practical. Repeated exercises then raised a further requirement: enough gun power to help destroyers fight their way into torpedo-attack position. That problem leads into the gun-strong Tribal design.
Notable Point · 1:10:58-1:13:40
Torpedo priority shapes destroyer layout and gun support
Torpedo attack influenced hull layout and crew protection before exercises pushed the navy toward greater gun support for the approach.