View source for Escort destroyer

{{Short description|Type of warship}}
{{About|US Navy '''Escort destroyer''' classification}}
{{distinguish|Destroyer escort}}

An '''escort 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 with [[United States Navy]] [[hull classification symbol]] '''DDE''' was a [[destroyer]] (DD) modified for and assigned to a fleet escort role after [[World War II]].  These destroyers retained their original hull numbers.  Later, in March 1950, the post World War II [[Anti-submarine warfare|ASW]] destroyer (DDK) [[Hull classification symbol|classification]] was merged with the DDE classification, resulting in all DDK ships being reclassified as DDE, but again retaining their original [[hull number]]s. On 30 June 1962, the DDE classification was retired, and all DDEs were reclassified as destroyers (DD).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.navweaps.com/index_tech/index_ships_list.htm |title=USN Ship Designations |last1=Derdall |first1=Guy |last2=DiGiulian |first2=Tony |website=NavWeaps |access-date=21 April 2016 }}</ref> 

''Escort destroyers'' should not be confused with the cheaper, slower, less capable, and more lightly armed World War II ''[[destroyer escort]]s''.
[[File:USS Bache (DD-470) underway at sea, in the 1960s.jpg|thumb|USS {{USS|Bache|DD-470|2}} following DDE conversion with [[RUR-4 Weapon Alpha|Weapon Alpha]] replacing mount 52.]]

==Concept==
Following the outbreak of World War II, the [[Royal Navy]] had inadequate numbers of warships suitable for escort of trade [[convoy]]s. While more modern destroyers were assigned to screen [[capital ship]]s, destroyers built during [[World War I]] were modified to serve as trade [[convoy]] escorts. Four [[V and W-class destroyer]]s were re-armed with modern [[anti-aircraft]] and [[anti-submarine weapon]]s. Additional V & W destroyers received simpler modifications as shipyard resources became taxed by other wartime needs. The [[quarterdeck]] gun was removed to increase [[depth charge]] storage, and the after bank of [[torpedo]] tubes was replaced by a {{convert|3|in|mm|adj=on}} anti-aircraft gun for escort of convoys in European coastal waters. Destroyers escorting trans-Atlantic convoys also replaced the [[forecastle]] gun with [[Hedgehog (weapon)|hedgehog]], 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 the [[Destroyers for Bases Agreement]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Lenton |first1=H.T. |last2=Colledge |first2=J.J. |title =British and Dominion Warships of World War II |publisher =Doubleday and Company |date =1968 |location =New York |pages =79&80 }}</ref> Anticipating a possible need to defend convoys supplying [[NATO]] allies, the United States Navy modified older destroyers during the [[Cold War]]. In the absence of hostilities requiring escort of merchant shipping, escort destroyers operated with [[anti-submarine warfare carrier]] (CVS) [[hunter-killer group]]s. 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.<ref>{{cite book |last=Friedman |first=Norman |author-link =Norman Friedman |title =U.S. Aircraft Carriers |publisher =Naval Institute Press |date =1983 |location =Annapolis, Maryland |pages =336–345 |isbn =0-87021-739-9}}</ref>

==''Gearing'' class==
{{Sclass|Gearing|destroyer|4}} conversions were modified{{when?|date=June 2024}} by replacing the B position [[5"/38 caliber gun]]s (mount 52) with either [[RUR-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.<ref>{{cite book |title =Warship Identification Manual |publisher =[[United States Government Publishing Office]] |date =1955 |page =32 }}</ref>

==''Fletcher'' class==
{{Sclass|Fletcher|destroyer|4}} conversions removed all torpedo tubes and three 5"/38 caliber gun mounts to retain only the [[main deck]] mounts fore and aft. A Weapon Alpha replaced the B position gun mount.<ref>{{cite book |title =Warship Identification Manual |publisher =[[United States Government Publishing Office]] |date =1955 |page =35 }}</ref>

[[V and W-class destroyer#Conversions for the Second World War|Similar modifications]] were made by the [[Royal Navy]], usually to older, [[World War I]] era vessels, to fit them for specific tasks such as convoy work.

==See also==
* [[Destroyer escort]]
* [[Ocean escort]]

==References==
<references/>

{{Warship types of the 19th & 20th centuries}}

[[Category:Destroyers of the United States Navy]]