Most of the frigates and destroyer leaders became cruisers (CG/CGN) but some became destroyers based on size and not being a primary aircraft carrier escort. In 1975 the US Navy decided to reclassify the escorts. What the US Navy had were three types of escorts: frigates/destroyer leaders (DL/DLG/DLGN), destroyers (DD/DDG) and ocean escorts (DE/DEG). From the 50s to 1975, the only US cruisers were World War II leftovers. With the end of World War II, battleships and cruisers, by treaty definition, were not constructed and phased out. Other examples would be the German DEUTSCHLAND class or US ALASKA class which were capital ships by tonnage and gun caliber, but classified as cruisers instead of capital ships. These distinctions didn’t even survive the war, with the iconic US FLETCHER and US GEARING class destroyers weighing in well over the “destroyer” treaty definition, the ATLANTA class starting as “destroyer leaders” and being reclassified as anti-aircraft cruisers, and the French LE FANTASQUE destroyers exceeding the limits in both tonnage and gun caliber. Thus, ship classification was based on technical criteria of size and armament as opposed to the missions designed for. In the Washington Naval treaty, capital ships were vessels, not aircraft carriers, greater than 10,000 tons and with guns in excess of 8in (203mm) caliber. Cruisers were larger than that in displacement and allowed to have guns between 6in and 8in caliber. In World War II, defending against submarines, the ultimate torpedo boats, was added to their mission set.īefore World War II, in the London Naval Treaty, destroyers were codified as being less than 1,850 tons and with no armament above 5.1 inch (130mm) caliber. The title “torpedo boat destroyer” was shortened to the simple “destroyer.” By World War I, destroyer’s main job was to screen the friendly force, scout out the enemy, and attack enemy ships with torpedoes while preventing torpedo attacks upon their own side. Torpedoes presented a new threat for heavily armed surface vessels especially steaming in linear formations or at anchor. World War 1 battleships were smaller than London Naval Treaty battleships… and when nations chose to not follow the treaty, became significantly larger as epitomized by Japan’s YAMATO class, the US’s IOWA and planned MONTANA design.ĭestroyers came about to protect these battleships against the asymmetric threat of small torpedo boats that might otherwise threaten the larger ships of the line. Pre-Dreadnaught cruisers and battleships were smaller than post dreadnaught designs. Over time, the displacement of these vessels grew larger and larger. The classification went down in ratings to less and less powerful vessels. Second rate ships were frigates, capable of fighting in the line but also for scouting, patrolling and escort. These ships of the line evolved over time to become “battleships”. First rate ships were referred to as “ships of the line” and expected to form the main line of battle in a decisive surface engagement. Warship classification was once more simple, and constantly evolving. So, what the heck is a destroyer, or a cruiser for that matter, these days?
#Japan modern warships full#
For comparison, the Russian SLAVA class and US TICONDEROGA class cruisers are around 10,000 tons, the “Heavy guided missile cruiser” KIROV is around 25,000 tons and the KUNETSOV “heavy aircraft carrying cruiser” (which operates fixed wing fighters from a full length flight deck, just like an aircraft carrier) is over 60,000 tons. Japan has the 24,000 ton IZUMO “helicopter destroyer” which, with a full length flight deck seems far more like an aircraft carrier. China is currently constructing the Type 055 destroyer, expected to displace 14,000 tons. The United States currently has 8-9,000 ton ARLEIGH BURKEs and the 14,000 ton ZUMWALT classified as destroyers. The Iranian press has referred to their 1,500 ton Moudge class as a destroyer. The warship classification of “destroyer” seems a very fungible term.
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