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Old 03-22-16, 08:55 AM   #26
Mike Abberton
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Since the '70s (look up the 1975 USN class redesignation), the line between cruisers and destroyers became seriously muddled. Cruisers had more of an offensive role and destroyers/frigates more of a defensive role. But in reality, neither class had much in the way of long-range offensive firepower (a few harpoons and maybe some Tomahawks) because they were intended deploy with carriers, which is where the USN concentrated it's offensive strike platforms.

The assignment of class designations became more about the original project/appropriation source than displacement, weapons, crew size, etc. (Ticonderoga CG was based on the Spruance DD hull).

Right now, I think for various reasons, both politically and for simplification purposes, the USN is calling all the new task force (carrier and amphib) escorts "destroyers". Convoy/secondary escorts will be frigates again (now that the followup LCS has been reclassed as a frigate).

I doubt we will see any new ships being classed as a cruiser unless it had a seriously different weapon fitup (e.g., lots of big guns for shore bombardment or something).

Mike
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