The 14th War Programme contained 38 orders, of which 31 were cancelled and seven completed. Australian service provides a comparison through the ships associated with the Second World War nickname Scrap Iron Flotilla. Those older destroyers lacked the size and firepower of ships built about twenty years later. Their armament nevertheless remained strong enough for an opponent to take seriously. Speed, manoeuvrability and a balanced design underpin the favourable assessment of their continued usefulness.
Notable Point · 59:53-1:00:40
Cancelled orders and the Scrap Iron Flotilla
The Scrap Iron Flotilla comparison shows why older destroyers remained useful despite the size and firepower of newer ships.