Q&A · 1:01:40-1:02:42

Did treaty limits hold back destroyer growth?

Treaties mattered less than escort numbers, disappearing cruisers, and the space required by postwar weapons and missions.

Destroyers Force Structure Missiles Naval Treaties

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Question

Would destroyers have grown beyond 2,000 to 3,000 tons without treaty limits?

Short answer

Probably not by much before 1945; postwar growth came mainly from replacing cruiser roles and accommodating new weapons.

Notes

Destroyers remained mass escorts, so even without treaty limits they were unlikely to grow dramatically before 1945. Their later expansion followed the thinning of cruisers above them and the addition of larger weapons and new fleet duties.