The eight ships of the class were laid down in pairs in 1937 onwards but wartime requirements delayed completion of the last two pairs till 1942-43 as the twin 5.1" were in short supply and went to complete the battleships and cruisers first. These ships were criticised for being so large with such a small armament. But there were two things that did not show that made the size difference understandable. The 5.1" DP guns were firing 13 rounds a minute, almost twice as fast as earlier guns and models. A larger magazine to take 180 rounds per gun were fitted. The other item was enlarged fuel tanks, as these destroyers were to act with the main fleet and required a better range than the earlier ships.
