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Destroyer Destroyers and Guided Missile Destroyers
back to Breakdown of a Battlegroup

Destroyers and guided missile destroyers are fast warships that help safeguard larger ships in a fleet or battle group. Destroyers primarily perform anti-submarine warfare duty. Guided missile destroyers, on the other hand, can be used in both anti-air and anti-surface warfare.

General Characteristics, Arleigh Burke class
Power Plant: Four General Electric LM 2500-30 gas turbines; two shafts, 100,000 total shaft horsepower.
Length: 466 feet (142 meters)
Beam: 59 feet (18 meters)
Displacement: 8,300 tons full load
Speed: 31 knots (35.7 mph, 57.1 kph)
Aircraft: None. LAMPS III electronics installed on landing deck for coordinated DDG 51/helo ASW operations
Crew: 23 officers, 300 enlisted
Armament: Standard missile; Harpoon; Tomahawk ASM/LAM; six Mk-46 torpedoes (from two triple tube mounts); one 5"/54 caliber Mk-45 (lightweight gun); two 20mm Phalanx CIWS
Date Deployed: July 4, 1991 (USS Arleigh Burke)



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