Action: A picture of a destroyer is shown on the right. The following text is shown below it:
Destroyers and guided missile destroyers operate in support of carrier battle groups, surface action groups, amphibious groups and replenishment groups. Destroyers primarily perform anti-submarine warfare duty while guided missile destroyers are multi-mission (ASW, anti-air and anti-surface warfare) surface combatants. The addition of the MK-41 Vertical Launch System or Tomahawk Armored Box Launchers (ABLs) to many Spruance-class destroyers has greatly expanded the role of the destroyer in strike warfare. Technological advances have improved the capability of modern destroyers culminating in the Arleigh Burke (DDG51) class. Named for the Navy's most famous destroyer squadron combat commander and three-term Chief of Naval Operations, the Arleigh Burke was commissioned July 4, 1991, and was the most powerful surface combatant ever put to sea. Like the larger Ticonderoga Class cruisers, DDG51’s combat system centers around the Aegis combat system and the SPY-ID, multi-function phased array radar. The combination of Aegis, the Vertical Launching System, an advanced anti-submarine warfare system, advanced anti-aircraft missiles and Tomahawk ASM/LAM, the Burke class continues the revolution at sea. Ship characteristics: Speed, 30 plus knots; Crew consists of 23 officers and 300 enlisted for the DDG; there are 30 officers and 352 enlisted on the DD; Aircraft onboard: None for the DDG, and two SH-60 Sea Hawks LAMPS III helicopters on the DD; Armament includes for the DDG- Standard missile, Harpoon, Vertical Launch ASROC(VLA) missiles, Tomahawk ASM/LAM, six Mk-46 torpedoes, one 5"/54 caliber Mk-45 gun, two 20mm Phalanx close in weapon systems. Armament on the Kidd class includes Standard missiles and NATO Sea Sparrow point defense AAW missiles.