Q&A · 1:51:23-1:52:16

Why Tribal-class destroyers handled heavy weather better

The larger Tribal class could keep station in weather that forced smaller destroyers to fall back.

Battle Class Destroyers Daring Class Destroyers (1949)Destroyers Royal Navy Seakeeping Tribal Class Destroyers (1936)

Question

Would Tribal-class destroyers really have avoided falling behind Hood in the weather?

Short answer

Their greater size and seakeeping made them better able to remain with capital ships in heavy weather than smaller destroyers.

Notes

The Tribals were larger not only in displacement but also in physical dimensions and freeboard, giving them better behavior in rough seas than smaller C-class destroyers. The same all-weather requirement helped drive later Battle- and Daring-class designs.