The naval destroyer originated shortly after the [Chilean Civil War]? of 1891 and in the [Sino-Japanese War]? of 1894. In those conflicts, a new type of ship proved to be devastatingly effective -- the swift, small [torpedo boat]? that could dash in close to the larger ships, loose their torpedoes, and dash away. The world's navies recognized the need for a counter weapon and developed the torpedo boat destroyer.
The United States commissioned its first destroyer in 1902. In the US Navy, destroyers operate in support of carrier battle groups, surface action groups, amphibious groups and replenishment groups. Destroyers (with a DD hull classification symbol) primarily perform anti-submarine warfare duty while guided missile destroyers (DDGs) are multi-mission (anti-submarine, anti-air, and anti-surface warfare) surface combatants. The relatively-recent addition of cruise missile launchers has greatly expanded the role of the destroyer in strike and land-attack warfare.
Two classes of destroyers are currently in use by the US Navy: the Spruance-class? and the [Arleigh Burke-class]?. The Zumwalt-class? is planned to replace them; on November 1, 2001, the US Navy announced the issuance of a revised Request for Proposal (RFP) for the Future Surface Combatant Program. Formerly known as DD 21, the program will now be called "DD(X)" to more accurately reflect the program purpose, which is to produce a family of advanced technology surface combatants, not a single ship class.
The [Douglas B-66B]? Destroyer was a specific model of aircraft initially manufactured in two separate versions -- a reconnaissance version designated RB-66B and a bomber version designated B-66B. They were similar in overall configuration, differing primarily in the equipment carried.
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