page_title: Destroyer
section_title: Operators
hierarchical_section_title: Destroyer / Operators
caption_attribution_description: 日本語: 平成24年度観艦式の訓練展示で相模湾を航行する護衛艦あきづき。 Nederlands: De nieuwste torpedojager JS Akizuki (DD-115) vaart in de sagamibaai tijdens de SDF Vlootschouw 2012. Canon EOS 7D
context_page_description: In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast, maneuverable, long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, convoy or battle group and defend them against powerful short range attackers. They were originally developed in the late 19th century by Fernando Villaamil for the Spanish Navy as a defense against torpedo boats, and by the time of the Russo-Japanese War in 1904, these "torpedo boat destroyers" were "large, swift, and powerfully armed torpedo boats designed to destroy other torpedo boats". Although the term "destroyer" had been used interchangeably with "TBD" and "torpedo boat destroyer" by navies since 1892, the term "torpedo boat destroyer" had been generally shortened to simply "destroyer" by nearly all navies by the First World War.
  Before 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 the war, the advent of the guided missile allowed destroyers to take on the surface combatant roles previously filled by battleships and cruisers.
context_section_description:  Argentine Navy Operates four Almirante Brown-class destroyers and a single modified Type 42 destroyer.
   Royal Australian Navy Operates three Hobart-class destroyer. They are the first Australian warships to use the AEGIS Combat System and are based on Spain's Álvaro de Bazán-class destroyers.
   People's Liberation Army Navy Operates the Luyang I, Luyang II, Luyang III and Luzhou classes. The latter two are armed with long range air defense missiles, the indigenous HQ-9 and the Russian S-300 respectively. China also operates thirteen Luyang III-class destroyers, six Luda-class destroyers, two Luhu-class destroyers, and one Luhai-class destroyer.
  The People's Liberation Army Navy operates the Sovremenny class, a class of large multi-purpose missile destroyers. They are powered by pressure-fired boilers, making them capable of speeds in excess of 30 knots (56 km/h). China has started building the Type 055 destroyer packed with 112 VLS, described to be of possessing a Universal Launch function. The VLS system integrated in this type of ship is said to be larger in volume compared to similarly dense VLS systems of the United States Ticonderoga-class cruiser and South Korea's Sejong the Great-class destroyer. The class of ships however lack an integrated electric propulsion (IEPS) and this facility is likely to be deployed on an upgraded series which would act as a development platform for new technologies to be deployed in the future.
   Republic of China Navy (Taiwan) Operates four Kidd-class destroyers, purchased from the United States.
   French Navy Operates two Horizon-class frigates and operate new FREMM multipurpose frigates. These stealthy ships are armed with anti-ship missiles and Aster surface-to-air missiles. The French Navy also operates six Georges Leygues-class frigates and two Cassard-class frigates. The French Navy applies the term "first-class frigate" to Georges Leygues, Cassard, Horizon, and FREMM-class ships and uses the NATO hull classification symbol "D 6xx" to place them in the destroyer type.
   German Navy Operates three Sachsen-class frigates and four  Baden-Württemberg-class frigates. These ships are classified by Germany as frigates, but are destroyers in terms of size and strength, and are usually labeled as such by other navies.
   Hellenic Navy HS Velos (D-16), a Fletcher-class destroyer, remains ceremonially in commission due to her historical significance.
   Indian Navy Operates three Kolkata-class destroyers. These ships are armed with Brahmos missiles, which have a range of 300 kilometres (190 mi), in the anti-ship role. (Barak-8) system is installed to counter airborne threats. Along with the Kolkata class, Indian Navy operates, the Delhi and Rajput-class destroyers. These destroyers also carry anti-submarine rockets and torpedoes. The destroyers have the capability to carry two Sea King helicopters. The Kolkata class will be augmented by the new P15B class of destroyers (Visakhapatnam-class destroyer) the construction of which was started in 2014.
   Italian Navy Operates two Horizon-class frigates and operate new FREMM multipurpose frigates. These stealthy ships are armed with anti-ship missiles and Aster surface-to-air missiles. The Italian navy also operates two Durand de la Penne-class destroyers. Italy classifies the FREMM with the NATO designation of "F" for frigate.
   Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Operates the Atago-class and Kongō-class destroyers which both employ the Aegis combat system. Japan also operates two Hatakaze-class destroyers, four Akizuki-class destroyers, five Takanami-class destroyers, nine Murasame-class destroyers, eight Asagiri-class destroyers, three Hatsuyuki-class destroyers, six Abukuma-class destroyers, and three Shimayuki-class destroyers for training use.
   Republic of Korea Navy Operates several classes of destroyers including the Sejong the Great-class (KDX-III), the Chungmugong Yi Sun-shin-class (KDX-II) and Gwanggaeto the Great-class (KDX-I) destroyers. The KDX-III is equipped with the Aegis combat system, Goalkeeper CIWS, Hyunmoo cruise missile and the Hae Su
caption: Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Akizuki
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