Tribal-class destroyers distributed their 4.7-inch guns for manoeuvring fights against enemy destroyers and for intended air defence. Their anti-aircraft performance fell short of that ambition. Short exercises encouraged attackers to seek the prestige of sinking a capital ship or carrier. In war, destroying an exposed escort could offer a useful result with a better chance of survival. The comparison with submarine exercises illustrates why an attack that loses the attacking boat can look more attractive in a short exercise than in sustained operations.
Notable Point · 1:57:17-1:59:07
How exercise assumptions shaped the Tribal-class destroyer
Exercises rewarded attacks on prestigious capital ships, while wartime attackers had reasons to destroy vulnerable escorts first.