Haida's appearance suggests how four Tribal-class destroyers and the British-built Polish destroyer ORP Piorun would have looked bearing down on Bismarck in darkness. At Narvik, Tribals could approach head-on while keeping as many forward guns on target as an opposing destroyer carried in total. Their guns fired faster as well, giving them the weight of fire to overwhelm enemy destroyers. The class was also intended to fight light cruisers, especially Italian ships, and Cape Bon is given as an example of success in that role.
Chapter · 5:23-6:29
Tribal-class forward firepower in destroyer combat
The Tribal class combined a threatening head-on silhouette with rapid forward gunfire intended to overwhelm enemy destroyers and engage light cruisers.