What is the difference between a guided missile cruiser and destroyer?
Table of Contents
Destroyers are normally anti-submarine, anti-surface and anti-air capable and perform all 3 of these roles to a high degree of capability. Cruisers normally perform anti-surface and anti-air to a high degree of capability, but with only a lesser degree of capability or focus on the anti-submarine role.
How many guided missile cruisers does the US have?

22
Russia has three Slava-class guided-missile cruisers in service while the United States has 22 Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruisers.
How many missiles does a guided missile cruiser have?
A standard missile loadout for a Ticonderoga cruiser is 80 SM-2 SAMs, 16 ASROC anti-submarine rockets, and 26 Tomahawk cruise missiles.
Can a Frigate beat a destroyer?
In general, a Destroyer is heavier, carries more firepower, and is slightly faster than a Frigate. Frigates also tend to have more of a focus on anti-submarine missions.

What is bigger a destroyer or cruiser?
The IISS Military Balance uses similar breakpoints, but has cruisers as being larger than 9,750 tons, destroyers larger than 4,500 tons, and frigates larger than 1,500 tons. The Military Balance doesn’t further explain the distinctions between these ship types.
Is a cruiser smaller than a destroyer?
By the early 20th century, after World War I, the direct successors to protected cruisers could be placed on a consistent scale of warship size, smaller than a battleship but larger than a destroyer.
How many Ticonderoga cruisers are there?
The Navy has 22 Ticonderoga-class cruisers (CG-52 through CG-73) in active service, as of the end of 2015.
What is the biggest cruiser in the U.S. Navy?
The U.S. Navy’s newest warship, USS Zumwalt (DDG 1000) is the largest and most technologically advanced surface combatant in the world. Zumwalt is the lead ship of a class of next-generation multi-mission destroyers designed to strengthen naval power from the sea.
Is the US Navy developing a new guided missile destroyer?
The U.S. Navy has begun working on a next-generation guided missile destroyer. DDG (X) will replace both existing cruisers and destroyers across the fleet. The Navy expects to begin construction of the first ship in 2028, with dozens more to follow. The U.S. Navy has officially started developing a new guided missile destroyer class.
What is a guided-missile destroyer?
A guided-missile destroyer is a destroyer designed to launch anti-aircraft guided missiles. Many are also equipped to carry out anti-submarine, anti-air, and anti-surface operations.
What will the new US Navy destroyer DDG (X) have?
The power system will be essential for integrating the laser weapons that will probably go on DDG (X). The new destroyer will likely have at least one or two lasers—short-range weapons with adjustable power levels that can blind drones or shoot down incoming missiles. Early 2000s concept art of future U.S. Navy ships.
What is the DDG (X)?
The DDG (X) will be the backbone of the service’s future fleet. The U.S. Navy has begun working on a next-generation guided missile destroyer. DDG (X) will replace both existing cruisers and destroyers across the fleet. The Navy expects to begin construction of the first ship in 2028, with dozens more to follow.