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Noun. 1. A medium-sized warship, usually with a displacement of between 3,500 and 6,500 tons. Larger than a Frigate, but smaller than a Cruiser. Primarily tasked with fleet air defense, most modern destroyers are equally capable in ASW (anti-submarine warfare). Not considered large enough to act as a flagship, but sufficiently large to carry out independent operations. The word "destroyer" comes from the ship's original task, to destroy smaller, faster torpedo boats before they could sink capital ships. 2. NATO standard designations for destroyers are: DD (gun destroyer), DDG (guided missile destroyer), and DDGN (nuclear-powered guided missile destroyer, discontinued in July 1975).
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