Cruisers & Destroyers

Navy surface warfare ships are of three general classes — Ticonderoga-class cruiser (CG), Arleigh Burke-class destroyer (DDG), and Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate (FFG). Each has its own features/abilities to escort and protect aircraft, oilers, ammunition, and supply ships as well as to prosecute the enemy!

Cruisers

Cruisers are usually the first ships on the scene during battle, supporting aircraft carriers, amphibious forces or operating independently on offensive missions. Each cruiser has approximately 24 Officers and 340 Sailors and costs about $1 billion to build.

Ticonderoga-class cruiser – (CG)

The Navy Ticonderoga-class cruisers rely on the highly-sophisticated AEGIS combat weapons system, which uses SPY-1 multifunction, phased-array radar to simultaneously track up to 100 targets at once. Also onboard most of these cruisers is the Vertical Launch System (VLS), which enables the carrying and launching of the Tomahawk long-range, precision-strike cruise missiles. These powerful weapons systems make the Ticonderoga-class cruisers one of the most combat-capable surface warfare ships at sea today.

Destroyers

Destroyers are multimission capable, which allows them to operate independently or as part of a carrier battle group, surface action group, expeditionary strike group, or underway replenishment group. They have approximately 23 Officers and 300 Sailors on board.

Arleigh Burke-class destroyer — (DDG)

Touted as the most powerful surface combatant ever put to sea, the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer was named after the Navy’s most famous destroyer-squadron combat commander and three time Chief of Naval Operations. This class features combat systems centered on the AEGIS weapons system and SPY-1D multi-function radar. Arleigh Burke-class warfare capabilities include the MK41 Vertical Launch System (VLS), antisubmarine capabilities, advanced antiair warfare missiles and the long-range and accurate Tomahawk cruise missile. Designed for survivability, these vessels incorporate all-steel construction and numerous damage-control features. These 500-foot-long destroyers use gas-turbine propulsion to cut through the sea in excess of 30 knots, which equals close to 35 mph.

Frigates

Today’s frigates are used primarily for Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) and are intended to provide open-sea escorts for amphibious ships and other convoys in low-to-moderate-threat areas. Frigates have approximately 20 Officers and 220 Sailors on board.

Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate – (FFG)

Oliver Hazard Perry-class guided-missile frigates are tough, smaller ships. They’re armed with guided missiles for land, sea, and air targets. They also perform Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) tactics for amphibious forces, supply replenishment teams and merchant convoys.