Comments by "Sar Jim" (@sarjim4381) on "R class destroyers - Guide 153" video.
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The R class, and British destroyers in general, didn't carry 3" guns as their main battery. The R class had three 4" Mark IV guns while the USN had four 4"/50 guns. They both had an elevation of 20 degrees in WWI, but the 4"/50 far outranged the Mark IV guns at 15,920 yards compared to 9,600 yards for the British gun. Even with the elevation raised to 30 degrees in WWII, the range only increased to 11,580 yards. The 4"/50 is usually considered the most effective secondary gun for surface action in any navy.
The gun layout was because of different operating conditions. The British preferred greater broadside firepower due to the likelihood of having to fight the Germans in fleet actions in the North Sea and Baltic. The USN doctrine was the destroyer would have to operate unsupported, chasing down other destroyers and merchant ships. That also meant the possibility of having to run from superior units. Since the four pipers didn't have the displacement available for superfiring, mounting two 4"/50 guns amidships in wing positions allowed three guns to bear for forward or astern fire. Different requirements led to different layouts, both adequate for the assumed job at hand.
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