The Tribal class brought a larger hull and machinery arrangement together with a superstructure developed in earlier designs, including the H class. The treaty system counted them as destroyer leaders. Their stability and gun layout suited a fight against the opposing screen, where a torpedo hit on a manoeuvring destroyer was hard to secure. Picket work and duties otherwise left to cruisers made the Tribals versatile, but the gunfight explains the emphasis of the design.
Chapter · 0:37-2:45
The Tribal class and the fight between destroyer screens
The Tribals' heavy guns helped clear a path through enemy destroyers for the fleet's torpedo attacks.