Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 2:11:07

The Tribal class's high-angle air-defence weakness

The Tribal-class destroyers' inability to meet high-angle air attack and their shortage of pom-poms would have been alarming if demonstrated during construction.

Anti-Aircraft WarfareDual Purpose GunsPom Pom GunsRoyal NavyTribal Class Destroyers (1936)
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Question

Which destroyer finding would have most alarmed the Royal Navy if published when the Tribal class was being built?

Short answer

That the Tribals could not deal well with high-angle air attack and needed stronger anti-aircraft arrangements, including more pom-poms and an adapted 4.7-inch mounting.

Notes

The Tribal class's high-angle weakness would have caused the most trouble if published while the ships were new. The Royal Navy presented itself as well prepared for air attack, so evidence that the destroyers could not meet steep attacks would produce a serious institutional shock. The fleet also needed more pom-poms. The 4.7-inch mounting could have been adapted for higher-angle work, although the change would increase weight.