ABSTRACT

This chapter provides an overview of the technical and operational details of destroyers. The types of the destroyers covered here are: Akizuki class DD, Carpenter class DD, Gearing class DD, Holland class DD, Minegumo class DD and Yamagumo class DD. Friesland class DD is one of the largest gun destroyer classes still in service, but has by modern standards been rendered obsolete through the purchase of missile-armed frigates by neighbouring countries. Built at Leningrad and Nikolayev in the mid- and late 1950s, Kotlin class gun destroyers were upgraded in anti-submarine capability during the early 1960, but now are suited only for patrol and training duties. Yamagumo class DD Japanese destroyers are characterized by their multi-diesel powerplant and an effective antisubmarine capability through the use of anti-submarine rocket (ASROC) missiles. Murasame class DD is an obsolescent Japanese destroyer type, this class was based on the Ayanami class, and has limited anti-submarine capability in shallow waters with its Mk 44/46 torpedoes.