An item referred to the magazine R.U.S.I. dated August 1938 where a note was published by lieutenant W.J. van de Kasteele (1) of the British Royal Navy. In his opinion could until the battle fleet was thoroughly modernized/renewed the enemy always could escape from a major sea battle due being much faster. The only solution to prevent the enemy from escaping was by numerous attacks of destroyers and slowing her down until the artillery could do her work. Although torpedo planes could be used for the same purpose was their disadvantage the dependency on suitable weather conditions. On of the major tasks of the destroyer was still this fixation of the enemy battle fleet. In the last period however were the destroyers developed into small cruisers. The main armament of the British Tribal class (2) was no longer the torpedo tubes but the artillery. One opinion was that destroyers needed such heavy artillery to make possible to obtain a positive position for launching their torpedoes. Another opinion was that mainly cruisers were responsible for defending destroyer flotillas. Van de Kasteele plead for two types of destroyers namely a torpedo boat and a fleet gunboat or super destroyer. The torpedo boats should have a maximum displacement of around 1.000 ton, a minimum speed of 40 miles and an armament of 2 sets torpedo guns to which a couple of 12cm guns were added. If higher speeds were required was it logical to develop the motor torpedo boat (MTB) design for that purpose although the dependency on suitable weather conditions was a disadvantage. A further development of the Tribal-class into the desired super destroyer was suggested. Such super destroyer was support the attack of the more conventional destroyers/torpedo boats.
Notes
1. William John (“Jack”) Van de Kasteele (1913 Devonport-13 October 1941 due to an explosion on board of HMS Norfolk)
2. The Tribal-class fast and powerful destroyers was a result of design studies for light fleet cruisers as a result by destroyer designs of Japan, Italy and Germany. The still existing Canadian HMCS Haida is the last of her kind. The original armament consisted of 4x2-12cm/4.7” quick firing Mk XII guns, 1x4-2pd quick firing anti-aircraft guns, 2x4-12.7mm/0.50” Mk III anti aircraft machineguns, 1x4-53,3cm/21” torpedo tubes amd20 depth charges.
Notes
1. William John (“Jack”) Van de Kasteele (1913 Devonport-13 October 1941 due to an explosion on board of HMS Norfolk)
2. The Tribal-class fast and powerful destroyers was a result of design studies for light fleet cruisers as a result by destroyer designs of Japan, Italy and Germany. The still existing Canadian HMCS Haida is the last of her kind. The original armament consisted of 4x2-12cm/4.7” quick firing Mk XII guns, 1x4-2pd quick firing anti-aircraft guns, 2x4-12.7mm/0.50” Mk III anti aircraft machineguns, 1x4-53,3cm/21” torpedo tubes amd20 depth charges.
