In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast, maneuverable, long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, convoy, or carrier battle group and defend them against a wide range of general threats.

This is a list of destroyers of the United States Navy, sorted by hull number. It includes all of the series DD, DL, DDG, DLG, and DLGN.

In World War I, the U.S. Navy began mass-producing destroyers, laying 273 keels of the Clemson and Wickes -class destroyers. The peacetime years between 1919 and 1941 resulted in many of these flush deck destroyers being laid up. Additionally, treaties regulated destroyer construction.

Arleigh Burke (DDG 51) and Zumwalt (DDG 1000) class destroyers, are warships that provide multi-mission offensive and defensive capabilities. Destroyers can operate independently or...

Destroyer, fast naval vessel that has served a variety of functions since the late 19th century, mainly in defense of surface fleets and convoys. The term destroyer was first used for the 250-ton vessels built in the 1890s to protect battleships from torpedo boats.

Sep 24, 2023 · Several Japanese and South Korean vessels have incorporated the U.S. destroyer technology placing them among the best in the world and facilitating cooperative joint naval operations with the...

Jul 11, 2023 · Destroyers played a significant role as fast attack ships during World War II, primarily serving as escort vessels attached to battle groups. With their ability to carry torpedoes and...

Jan 14, 2016 · From their original function as torpedo-boat destroyers to the respect they've earned as anti-submarine warfare vessels, modern-day destroyers have evolved into multi-mission surface combatants tailored for land attack and littoral dominance.

Mar 4, 2025 · Guided-missile destroyers are multi-mission surface combatants capable of conducting Anti-Air Warfare (AAW), Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW), and Anti-Surface Warfare (ASuW).

Warship - Destroyer, Armament, Torpedo: The self-propelled torpedo had its greatest impact on the design of small surface ships. Beginning in the 1880s, many nations built hundreds of small steam torpedo boats on the theory that they could bar coastal waters to any enemy.