What if the Tribal-class destroyers received true dual-purpose 4.5-inch guns?
Short answerThey become much stronger anti-aircraft escorts and could pull later Royal Navy destroyer design toward the same weapon earlier.
NotesReplacing the 4.7-inch battery with twin 4.5-inch dual-purpose mountings would give the Tribals high-angle fire from all eight main guns. Their aircraft losses should fall, while the slightly higher practical rate of fire would also remain useful against surface targets. The ships might displace somewhat more, but X mounting would no longer need the historical anti-aircraft compromise. Success could make triple twin 4.5-inch mountings standard on later destroyers and encourage similar conversions of older C- and D-class cruisers into powerful convoy escorts.