Destroyer

In the First World War, destroyers carried torpedoes and mines and frequently carried out fleet alert and escort, mine laying and protection of supply lines. Some destroyers were also equipped with mine-clearing tools for use as mine-clearing ships, and even directly used to support amphibious landing operations.

In 1914, in the Helgoland Bay naval battle between the British and German navies, the destroyers played a major role in large-scale naval warfare for the first time. The destroyers of both armies, as the escort ships of the main fleet, both successfully completed the escort task. In the naval battle in Jutland, both sides sent out the main force of the fleet, including a large number of destroyers. A large number of destroyers from both sides were put into the battlefield by squadrons, spread across the vast ocean, and diligently carried out the tasks of fleet escort, detection, torpedo attack and rescue of drowning sailors.

In 1916, the United Kingdom built a Class V destroyer and a subsequent Class W destroyer. The ship body is designed with high freeboard, which is more suitable for the operation under the harsh sea conditions in the open sea and ocean. It is equipped with a 4-inch gun and a triple 21-inch torpedo launcher, which greatly improves the firepower and endurance. With the development of the war and the need of the mission, the destroyers in this period have already become multipurpose and gradually develop towards large-scale, and the weapons equipped become stronger and stronger.

In 1917, Germany launched an unrestricted submarine war. In the face of the strangulation of submarines on traffic lines, almost all destroyers of the Allied countries installed depth bombs to carry out anti-submarine missions. At that time, the technical performance of submarines was far inferior to that of submarines in the 20th and 21st centuries, the speed was very slow, not more than 20 knots, and the depth of submergence was also small. At that time, destroyers were small and flexible, and generally had a speed of more than 30 knots. It was almost impossible for submarines to launch a surprise attack on destroyers, Therefore, it has become an indispensable escort force for the merchant fleet.

In 1917, the United States Congress approved the proposal to build 111 Wakes-class destroyers and 162 Clemson-class destroyers for the Navy. So far, destroyers have evolved from small ships performing a single mission into an indispensable and important force for the navy.