Destroyers are excellent hunters for aircraft carriers and battleships. Currently have pretty good equipment. In the publication we will consider the American and Russian destroyers.
The origin of the name and the first destroyers
Destroyers are an abbreviated name that completely sounds like a destroyer. These are warships, the purpose of which is to fight against ships, missiles and submarines of the enemy. They can also serve as the protection of ships when they cross the sea. As a rule, destroyers are high-speed vessels, which, in addition to the above, are used for reconnaissance and artillery support.
Even in the pre-revolutionary Russian Empire, torpedoes were called "self-propelled mines." The origin of the name "destroyer" is connected with this. The first part of the name indicates that this class of ships can operate in a squadron (a unit in the Navy that decides operational combat missions). The name came to Russia in the XIX-XX centuries from France.
The prototype of destroyers (destroyers) was the British ram destroyer Polyphemus. Another prototype is the Japanese armored destroyer Kotaka.
The first ships, called "destroyers", were built in the early nineties of the nineteenth century for the British fleet. They were designed for removable weapons: artillery or torpedo launchers could be used depending on the situation. But tests have shown that both units can be used simultaneously.
United States
For a long time, the destroyer is considered a military horse of the Navy. An American destroyer such as Arly Burke is one of the best warships in the world due to its versatility. Also, with a displacement of 5,000 tons, it is the largest surface ship in the entire post-war history.
The name was received from the famous admiral, commander of the destroyer of the Second World War, Arly A. Burke. Destroyers of this class have a steel structure and unique weapons that can launch rockets every second. That is, this destroyer can hit almost a hundred targets in a matter of minutes. Ammunition is released in two minutes.
Each American destroyer of this type has four types of missiles: anti-aircraft missiles (guided), anti-submarine, anti-ship and cruise missiles "Tomahawk".
An important role is also played by electronic sensors, which allow you to accurately direct the weapon at the target.
These vessels are available not only in the United States, but also in Japan, Spain and Norway. A similar ship is trying to create Chinese engineers (very safely).
Russia
The destroyers of Russia have many types, among which the most famous and used and is the destroyer "Sarych" (project 956). The construction of ships of this type was carried out at a factory in Leningrad. The speed of the ship can develop up to almost thirty knots.
Among the main external features of the ship should be highlighted the smooth deck, the sheer nose of the hull, which provides indelibility of the deck. The rigorous and ominous appearance of the destroyer suggested a corresponding effect. Due to the "short" hull, Project 956 ships are well on the wave. They have high combat survivability.
"Buzzers" have good weapons: anti-aircraft missile, artillery, anti-ship and anti-submarine, mine, as well as aviation and radio technology.
A new destroyer of project 956 is being developed , but the timing of its construction is still unknown.
Modern destroyers
At the present stage, the design and armament of destroyers is complicated, so their maintenance has become quite expensive. They ceased to be as numerous a ship class as before. The largest of them are in Japan (their displacement reaches ten thousand tons) and can perform tasks anywhere in the ocean. Small destroyers are converted warships. Mexico and Peru have them and are designed to work only on their shores.
In the XXI century there are the following trends in the construction of destroyers: the introduction of elements of "invisibility"; increase in habitability and seaworthiness; increased automation; improving the quality and capabilities of destroyers, which is carried out by reducing their number.