Q&A · 4:19:43-4:20:04

More Tribals trade torpedoes for gun power

It would strengthen gun-armed destroyer numbers and could accelerate 4.5-inch weapons, at the cost of fewer torpedo tubes.

Question

Would continuing Tribal-class construction instead of the J, K, L, M, and N classes be a good choice?

Short answer

It would strengthen gun-armed destroyer numbers and could accelerate 4.5-inch weapons, at the cost of fewer torpedo tubes.

Notes

The Tribal design emphasizes gun power more heavily than the destroyer classes that followed. Continuing it could produce a larger force of gun-focused ships and encourage earlier use of 4.5-inch weapons. The fleet would surrender torpedo capacity in return. The choice is a mission tradeoff rather than a clear improvement in every role.