A major wartime fleet may possess yards and skilled workers able to build more than a small emergency type but unable to produce the largest design. The S class resembled Weapon-class destroyers in its ability to use that middle band of industrial capacity. Such ships add valuable numbers during mobilization without demanding the resources of the top-end design. In peacetime, however, a medium type can be less capable than the premium ship while remaining more expensive to crew and operate than the economy type.
Chapter · 1:16:36-1:18:09
Why a medium all-rounder works in wartime force structure
The S class is compared with Weapon-class destroyers to show why a medium type can exploit wartime industrial capacity yet fit peacetime forces poorly.