When you absolutely need more firepower and you can't get it.
Send in someone with GUTS and they will make the enemy respect you at the very least. Fear you if you prove more than your worth.
This ship causes a bunch of Japanese to question just what the Americans were, and USS Johnston managed to get a salute of respect from the Japanese Navy.
This is the group of destroyers and destroyer escorts that is the reason that Kongou is targeting destroyers all the time.