Destroyer

**Destroyers** are fast, maneuverable, long-endurance warships intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, convoy, or battle group and defend them against powerful short range attackers. Their weaponry typically consists of guns, missiles, and torpedoes, and they are generally pretty versatile ships despite their smaller size. By the 21st century, destroyers are the global standard for surface combatant ships.

They appear fairly frequently throughout the *Foxtrot: Foxes in Arms* series prominently in the aforementioned escort role. The most common type is the guided missile destroyer (DDG), while a more rare variant known as stealth destroyers are also present.

## History

### Development

Historically, destroyers were originally developed in the late 19th Century, specifically the mid 1880s, and they were designed to be a defensive measure against torpedo boats; small ships designed to carry torpedoes. This original purpose gained this type of vessel the name "torpedo boat destroyer." By the turn of the 20th century, these vessels were called large, swift, and powerful torpedo boats designed for destroying other torpedo boats. Within several years, torpedo boat destroyer was shortened to simply "destroyer," and the two terms were used interchangeably by the time of the First World War. Prior to and during World War II, destroyers were light vessels with little endurance for unattended ocean operations; typically a number of destroyers and a single destroyer tender operated together.

After that war ended, destroyers continued to evolve past their original roles. The development and deployment of guided missiles with incredibly long ranges allowed destroyers to take on enemy surface combatants of various sizes and at these great ranges. Such capabilities allowed these ships to take on the rolls previously filled by battleships and cruisers. That was the birth of the modern guided missile destroyers, which are wildly considered the global standard for warships across the navies of many nations today and much larger than their earliest predecessors.

### *Foxtrot: Foxes in Arms* Universe

Much of the development history of destroyers is similar to their real life counterparts. The United States used destroyers during many of the 20th Century conflicts it was a part of, and was a leading producer of such vessels, such as the *Fletcher*-class. They were used during the World Wars, Korea, Vietnam, the Gulf War, and many subsequent conflicts. Many early destroyers were sunk during surface action or due to aircraft attack. Since then, there have been a number of incidents involving US Navy destroyers. American *Arleigh Burke*-class destroyers are among the latest in destroyer development, and are the Navy's most plentiful warship in the 21st Century.

Prior to the Urocyan Wars, both the Snow brothers served aboard destroyers early on in their careers.

Both the US and Urocyia are presently utilizing destroyers during the Urocyan War. Destroyers are seen on both sides primarily as escorting larger ships such as aircraft carriers or for other uses. They escorted Urocyan carriers from the mainland as they conducted Operation Tidal Wave, aimed at disabling most American naval assets around the world. During the same engagement, many American destroyers were either sunk or damaged, with several making it through it relatively unscathed. Some destroyers are part of Battle Group Foxtrot along with a pair of cruisers and several frigates which had been recommissioned under the Navy's plan to build up and counter the Urocyan Navy. Subsequent operations have continued to see destroyers on the front lines of naval battles, be they fleet escorts or watching over convoys.

## Named Vessels

### United States Navy

* USS *Johnston* (DDG-998)
* USS *Mannert L. Abele* (DDG-999)
* USS *Russell* (DDG-59)
* USS *Mahan* (DDG-72)
* USS *Preble* (DDG-88)
* USS *Pinckney* (DDG-91)
* USS *Kidd* (DDG-100)