How destroyer leaders commanded flotillas

Destroyer leaders offered enough space to investigate director-controlled firing and accommodate a captain with his staff. The expanding force required more leaders, prompting the use of Chilean ships as well as new British construction. Light cruisers accompanied flotillas, while larger destroyers frequently led divisions within them. Captains coordinated the flotilla, with commanders and lieutenant-commanders commanding individual ships. Commodores could oversee groups of flotillas or the light forces from an attached cruiser. A complement of 116 men remained modest by Royal Navy standards of the period. The leaders' main role was screening, including coordinating the other ships performing it. Additional signalling equipment and staff allowed a larger destroyer to direct more fighting power than its own weapons supplied. Its armament still compared well with other destroyers, preserving substantial capability to fight independently.