The Admiralty flotilla leader programme spread construction among more shipyards so that more ships could be built simultaneously. Eight leaders were built, with Stuart later transferred to the Royal Australian Navy. The original armament comprised five 4.7-inch guns, a 3-inch gun and two triple 21-inch torpedo mountings. The fifth main gun covered either side, giving two guns forward, two aft and five on the broadside. The performance figures are 5,000 nautical miles at 15 knots and a maximum speed of 36.5 knots. Displacement was 1,580 tons standard and about 2,000 tons fully loaded. The later refit example concerns twin 6-pounder guns replacing some main guns during the Second World War.
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Admiralty flotilla leaders and their fighting layout
Admiralty flotilla leaders spread construction across yards while combining five main guns, six torpedoes and substantial cruising endurance.