Langbahn Team – Weltmeisterschaft

Guided-missile destroyer

INS Visakhapatnam, the lead ship of her class of guided-missile destroyers

A guided-missile destroyer (DDG) is a destroyer whose primary armament is guided missiles so they can provide anti-aircraft warfare screening for the fleet. The NATO standard designation for these vessels is DDG, while destroyers which have a primary gun armament or a small number of anti-aircraft missiles sufficient only for point-defense are designated DD. Nations vary in their use of destroyer D designation in their hull pennant numbering, either prefixing or dropping it altogether.

Guided-missile destroyers are equipped with large missile magazines, with modern examples typically having vertical-launch cells. Some contain integrated weapons systems, such as the United States’ Aegis Combat System, and may be adopted for use in an anti-missile or ballistic-missile defense role. This is especially true for navies that no longer operate cruisers, so other vessels must be adopted to fill in the gap.

Many guided-missile destroyers are also multipurpose vessels, equipped to carry out anti-surface operations with surface-to-surface missiles and naval guns, and anti-submarine warfare with torpedoes and helicopters.

Active and planned

Australian HMAS Brisbane
Type 055 destroyer The largest and most advanced surface warship in the People's Liberation Army Navy
Type 052D destroyer in the People's Liberation Army Navy
ROCS Tso Ying

Although the French Navy no longer uses the term "destroyer", the largest frigates are assigned pennant numbers with flag superior "D", which designates destroyer.

Indian Navy destroyers sailing in unison
Destroyer Caio Duilio of the Italian Navy
The Japanese guided-missile destroyer Maya
ROKS Yulgok Yi I
HMS Duncan
Admiral Vinogradov, an Udaloy-class destroyer
Arleigh Burke-class destroyer
Zumwalt-class destroyer

Former classes

 Australia

 Canada

 France

 Germany

 Italy

 Japan

 Soviet Union

 United Kingdom

 United States

References

  1. ^ Friedman 2004, pp. 322–323, 425
  • Friedman, Norman (2004). US Destroyers: An Illustrated Design History (Revised ed.). Annapolis: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-442-3.