Anescort destroyer was a small warship built to full naval standards which was optimised for air-defence and anti-submarine duties in wartime, but which retained many of the capabilities of a traditional fleet destroyer, enabling it to conduct operations in conjunction with main fleet units as well as carrying out convoy escort and ASW patrols. Typically, escort destroyers had a high enough speed and sufficient armament of guns and torpedoes that they were capable of skirmishing successfully with enemy destroyers and cruisers.
An escort destroyer withUnited States Navyhull classification symbolDDE was adestroyer (DD) modified for and assigned to a fleet escort role afterWorld War II. These destroyers retained their original hull numbers. Later, in March 1950, the post World War IIASW destroyer (DDK)classification was merged with the DDE classification, resulting in all DDK ships being reclassified as DDE, but again retaining their originalhull numbers. On 30 June 1962, the DDE classification was retired, and all DDEs were reclassified as destroyers (DD).[1]
Escort destroyers should not be confused with the cheaper, slower, less capable, and more lightly armed World War IIdestroyer escorts.
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Following the outbreak of World War II, theRoyal Navy had inadequate numbers of warships suitable for escort of tradeconvoys. While more modern destroyers were assigned to screencapital ships, destroyers built duringWorld War I were modified to serve as tradeconvoy escorts. FourV and W-class destroyers were re-armed with modernanti-aircraft andanti-submarine weapons. Additional V & W destroyers received simpler modifications as shipyard resources became taxed by other wartime needs. Thequarterdeck gun was removed to increasedepth charge storage, and the after bank oftorpedo tubes was replaced by a 3-inch (76 mm) anti-aircraft gun for escort of convoys in European coastal waters. Destroyers escorting trans-Atlantic convoys also replaced theforecastle gun withhedgehog, removed all torpedo tubes to improve seaworthiness, and replaced one boiler with additional fuel storage to increase range. Similar modifications were made to former United States destroyers obtained through theDestroyers for Bases Agreement.[2] Anticipating a possible need to defend convoys supplyingNATO allies, the United States Navy modified older destroyers during theCold War. In the absence of hostilities requiring escort of merchant shipping, escort destroyers operated withanti-submarine warfare carrier (CVS)hunter-killer groups. Operational doctrine anticipated each CVS would be accompanied by eight DDEs. Four DDEs would provide a close screen for the CVS while the other four attacked submarines detected by aircraft.[3]
Gearing class conversions were modified[when?] by replacing the B position5"/38 caliber guns (mount 52) with eitherRUR-4 Weapon Alpha or hedgehog. A second Weapon Alpha was sometimes installed at the aft end of the 01 level above the aft 5"/38 gun mount.[4]
Fletcher class conversions removed all torpedo tubes and three 5"/38 caliber gun mounts to retain only themain deck mounts fore and aft. A Weapon Alpha replaced the B position gun mount.[5]
Similar modifications were made by theRoyal Navy, usually to older,World War I era vessels, to fit them for specific tasks such as convoy work.