Destroyers

The need for a Destroyer class emerged when Frigates proved to be ineffectual in defending battle groups against the small, agile torpedo gunboats. Their size varries between the 300 an 360 meters, with the exception of Prowess, which is a bulky ship that's "only" 111 meters long. New breakthroughs in torpedo technology enabled the colonies to equip small, cheap gunships with weapons capable of destroying a superior enemy battle fleet. This new threat directly influenced the rise of a Destroyer class. Its long-range weapons are enough to keep up with the Battleships, while still having enough armament to destroy any Gunships torpedo assault groups.

Additional Information
In the terminology of the space warfare, a Destroyer is a fast and maneuverable warship of high endurance, mainly intended to protect and escort larger warships of the fleet and to stand their ground against the convoys. It's main purpose is to fight off smaller, agile, short range vessels - torpedo Gunships, assault Corvettes and Frigates. Its size, cost of maintenance and limited availability mean that it is a rather uncommon sight in the merchant convoys - which usually uses Frigates for escort purposes.

See more information about the next class - Cruisers, previous class - Frigates, or go back to the page where all ships are listed.