Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 3:50:41-3:51:25

Rate of fire matters in a Tribal-Fletcher gun comparison

The comparison begins by correcting the Tribal calibre to 4.7 inches and then shifts attention from shell diameter to firing tempo.

4.7-inch Guns5-inch GunsFletcher Class DestroyersNaval GunneryRate Of FireTribal Class Destroyers (1936)
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Question

What made a Tribal-class destroyer's 4.7-inch battery competitive with a Fletcher's 5-inch guns?

Short answer

The key comparison is rate of fire, after correcting the Tribal calibre from 4.5 inches to 4.7 inches.

Notes

The Tribal weapon was 4.7-inch rather than 4.5-inch, while the Fletcher carried 5-inch guns. Rate of fire is the important source of the Tribal battery's comparative power. Calibre alone does not measure practical gunnery output. Firing tempo also determines what a battery can deliver.