V and W destroyers versus American four-stackers

For an interwar admiral, would V and W destroyers or Wickes and Clemson four-stackers be preferable?

The V and W class is the preferred general-purpose and offensive choice. Four-stackers remain capable all-rounders for patrol and secondary work, and the theatre and national needs matter most.

The V and W class is preferred as the stronger general-purpose choice, especially in regional waters such as the Mediterranean and South China Sea. In the Pacific's wide-open spaces, the difference is less decisive and national priorities matter more. American four-stackers remain useful all-rounders whose patrol and exercise work could free newer destroyers for more demanding tasks. The choice therefore depends on intended employment and theatre rather than a single universal ranking.