Ships Cover relating to new destroyers (circa 1903-1905). This item does not relate entirely to any particular class, although the majority of the papers and letters pertain to the Rivers. The criteria for new designs discussed in the correspondence may have formed the basis for the requirements for the Tribal class destroyers (1907-1909). The documentation mainly comprises very detailed design proposals and requirements, copies of correspondence between the Admiralty and the major building firms, and very detailed reports on the performance of the River class ships, both from regular trials and the 1904 Manoeuvres. Of particular interest is a critical letter penned by Lord Charles Beresford in early 1904 criticising the attributes of the River class relative to older destroyers, and the DNC's detailed response. The earliest papers date from July 1903 and the last from December 1905.