![]() The ESSM integration with its 50 km range, limits the warship to a defensive AAW role and prevents it from being used in offensive roles.32 cell Mk41 Vertical Launch System (VLS) cells for a mixture of Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile (ESSM), RUM-139 ASROC (Anti-submarine rocket) and Type 7 VL ASROC.The bigger square is the C-band radar and the smaller square is the X-band radar The X-band AESA is primarily for fire control and provides target illumination for the ESSM in the terminal intercept phase.The C-band AESA radars are used primarily for long range search and tracking.OPS-50 dual band multimode radar with 4 C-band and X-band faces each.Propulsion: Combined Gas and Gas (COGAG) propulsion with 4 Rolls Royce Spey SM1C gas turbines, providing 19.5 MW of power each for a total of 78 MW. As of now, there are 4 ships of this class, with the final one commissioned in 2014. At 6800 tons, they are basically in the same league as a modern European frigate, but Japan classifies them as a destroyer due to its comprehensive weapons and sensor suite. Their main role is to serve as armed escorts for the JMSDF helicopter carriers. Built with a high level of indigenous technology, they complement the larger and more capable Atago and Kongo class AEGIS destroyers in service. This is the newest class of destroyers in the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF). Special thanks to my friend D-Mitch of for creating some of the excellent infographics. The article is intended to give an overview of the top 10 destroyers in service today, their capabilities and their drawbacks. Hence, this article should not be quoted out of context. The ranking is done on the basis of overall performance of the warship, including advanced technology, multirole capabilities, and aviation facilities. These rankings can vary when specialized capabilities are taken into. In this analysis, those destroyers which have well-balanced anti-submarine/air and surface capabilities are quoted as fully multi-role, whereas the ones with a specific role are quoted in their area of strength. It is very rare for a country to export a destroyer these days as the market is limited to powerful countries which build their own destroyers anyways. All the countries mentioned in this article have built their destroyers locally with either indigenously sourced or imported technology and designs. Not every modern navy can afford to operate destroyers because of technological, budget, manpower, and location constraints. Early 20th Century Mid 20th Century 21st Centuryĭefencyclopedia defines a destroyer as “ A modern destroyer is a 6000-12,000 ton warship, equipped with an array of long-range missiles, guns, and high power radars, and is designed to operate autonomously or along with a battle group in order to fulfill a variety of tasks which typically consist of land attack, missile defense, and surface warfare” The below pictures highlight the evolution of destroyers with a gap of approximately 50 years between each. Though destroyers of now look less fearsome when compared to their WW2 counterparts, they carry several times the firepower and cutting edge sensors which allow 1 modern destroyer to do the job of around 10 legacy ones. The look of a warship bristling with dozens of guns was replaced by sleek lines and missiles stored under the deck. After this period, the invention of the naval surface to air and cruise missiles completely changed the look, size, and capabilities of a destroyer. Then they progressively grew in size to become significantly capable surface combatants by World War II. The first torpedo boat destroyers were developed in the last decade of the 19th century and gained prominence after World War I. It was initially a small, fast, and manoeuverable fleet escort ship termed as a torpedo boat destroyer, whose only role was to find and sink enemy torpedo boats. However, the destroyer didn’t start out as such. It is no surprise, therefore, when in naval terms, a destroyer is an extremely powerful warship which is meant to project power, perform complex missions and bring the enemy to their knees with its firepower. The very word ‘Destroyer’ conveys destructive power, force, and strength.
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