With the Simonov class in production, it was felt that with just a few feet of extra length the design could add a fifth 4", add a few feet of breadth and the torpedoes could be increased to triple mountings. This layout would be the basic design for Antarctican destroyers for the next few classes. Even the Destroyer Leaders would have this layout but with a larger sized gun.



The Royal Navy designs for the VW and leaders were switching to the 4.7" for the main armament. Antarctica resisted this trend as it was felt that in small ship actions the faster firing 4" would be better than the bigger 4.7". Crew fatigue was also thought to be an issue between the guns. The bigger 50 odd pound shell of the 4.7" would wear out their crews and slow down the firing rate much quicker than the 32 pound 4" shells.



The inter-war period saw the class remain as Fleet destroyers with their already good range and armament. The armament did change a lot between the wars. Every single gun was changed or swapped out. The 4" became dual purpose weapons, the centre 4" being swapped for a quad 2 pounder mounting, and the single 2 pounder guns were replaced with 20mm cannons. A new Gun Director was mounted at the back of the bridge and given radar control equipment in 1940. Air and surface search radar appeared at the mastheads and by the aft funnel.

 

Displacement	1,400 tons standard, 1,600 tons full load
Length	335 ft
Breadth	35 ft
Draught	12 ft
Machinery	2 shaft, steam turbines, 35,000shp
Speed	34 knots
Range	5,000 miles at 10 knots
Armament	As completed 5 x 4" (5x1) 3 x 2pd (3x1)	Refits to 1940 4 x 4" DP (4x1) 4 x 2pd AA (1x4) 5 x 20mm (5x1)
Torpedoes	6 x 21" (2x3)	6 x 21" (2x3)
Complement	128	130
Notes	Tigris Euphrates Nile Congo Mekong Mackenzie Murray Tocantins Volga Madeira Yukon Niagara Salween Colorado Yangtze Danube Irrawady Zambezi