In the 1930s, the United States Navy

United States Navy

The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...

 built two classes of flotilla leaders

Flotilla leader

A flotilla leader was a warship suitable for commanding a flotilla of destroyers or other small warships, typically a small cruiser or a large destroyer...

, the Porter class, and the Somers class

Somers class destroyer

The Somers-class destroyer was a class of 1850-ton United States Navy destroyer based on the Porter-class. They were answers to the large destroyers that the Japanese navy was building at the time, and were initially intended to be leaders for destroyer flotillas...

. Due to the regulations of the London Naval Treaty

London Naval Treaty

The London Naval Treaty was an agreement between the United Kingdom, the Empire of Japan, France, Italy and the United States, signed on April 22, 1930, which regulated submarine warfare and limited naval shipbuilding. Ratifications were exchanged in London on October 27, 1930, and the treaty went...

, these 13 ships had a displacment of 1,850 tons, compared to the 1,500 tons of a "standard" destroyer. When the treaty ended with the outbreak of World War II

World War II

World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...

 in Europe in 1939, the much larger Fletcher class

Fletcher class destroyer

The Fletcher class were a class of destroyers built by the United States during World War II. The class was designed in 1939 as a result of dissatisfaction with the earlier destroyer leader types...

 was constructed, making the differentiation irrelevant.

Following the war, Destroyer leader (DL) was a hull classification symbol

Hull classification symbol

The United States Navy, United States Coast Guard, and United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration use hull classification symbols to identify their ship types and each individual ship within each type...

 used by the U.S. Navy from the 1950s until 1975. These ships were more commonly called frigate

Frigate

A frigate is any of several types of warship, the term having been used for ships of various sizes and roles over the last few centuries.In the 17th century, the term was used for any warship built for speed and maneuverability, the description often used being "frigate-built"...

s, although they were much larger than frigates of other navies. They were intended to be larger and more capable than destroyers and to lead a destroyer

Destroyer

In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast and maneuverable yet long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, convoy or battle group and defend them against smaller, powerful, short-range attackers. Destroyers, originally called torpedo-boat destroyers in 1892, evolved from...

 task force. During the 1975 USN ship reclassification

United States Navy 1975 ship reclassification

The United States Navy reclassified many of its surface vessels in 1975, changing terminology and hull classification symbols for cruisers, frigates, and ocean escorts.- Classification prior to 1975 :...

 these ships were reclassified as guided missile destroyer

Guided missile destroyer

A guided missile destroyer is a destroyer designed to launch guided missiles. Many are also equipped to carry out anti-submarine, anti-air, and anti-surface operations. In the U.S...

s (DDG) or guided missile cruisers

Cruiser

A cruiser is a type of warship. The term has been in use for several hundreds of years, and has had different meanings throughout this period...

 (CG). The last one of these ships was decommissioned in 1999. A total of 41 ships bore this classification.

Ship	Built As	Reclassified As	Class	Commissioned– Decommissioned	NVR link
Norfolk USS Norfolk (DL-1) The second USS Norfolk was the first destroyer leader of the United States Navy. Originally projected as a hunter-killer cruiser, she was in service until 1970.-History:...	DL-1	—	Norfolk	1953–1970	DL1
Mitscher USS Mitscher (DL-2) USS Mitscher , named for Admiral Marc "Pete" Mitscher USN , was the lead ship of her class of destroyer of the United States Navy....	DL-2	DDG-35	Mitscher Mitscher class destroyer The Mitscher class destroyer was an experimental destroyer class of four ships that were built for the United States Navy shortly after World War II. Considerably larger than all previous destroyers, they would have been the first post-war destroyer class had they not been reclassified during...	1953–1978	DDG35
John S. McCain USS John S. McCain (DL-3) The USS John S. McCain , originally designated the DD-928 but reclassified in 1951, was a destroyer in the United States Navy. The ship was launched by Bath Iron Works Corporation, Bath, Maine, on 12 July 1952. She was sponsored by Roberta McCain, the daughter-in-law of Admiral John S...	DL-3	DDG-36	Mitscher	1953–1978	DDG36
Willis A. Lee USS Willis A. Lee (DL-4) USS Willis A. Lee was a Mitscher-class destroyer in the United States Navy. She was named for Vice Admiral Willis A. “Ching” Lee USN .Willis A...	DL-4	—	Mitscher	1954–1969	DL4
Wilkinson USS Wilkinson (DL-5) USS Wilkinson was a Mitscher class destroyer in the United States Navy. She was named for Vice Admiral Theodore Stark "Ping" Wilkinson USN ....	DL-5	—	Mitscher	1954–1969	DL5
Farragut USS Farragut (DDG-37) USS Farragut , named for Admiral David Glasgow Farragut, USN , was a Farragut-class guided missile frigate laid down as DLG-6 by the Bethlehem Steel Corporation at Quincy, Massachusetts on June 3, 1957, launched on July 15, 1958 by Mrs. H. D. Felt, wife of the Vice Chief of Naval Operations and...	DLG-6	DDG-37	Farragut Farragut class destroyer (1958) The Farragut class was the second destroyer class of the United States Navy to be named for Admiral David Glasgow Farragut. The class is sometimes referred to as the Coontz class, since Coontz was first to be designed and built as a guided missile ship, whereas the previous three ships were...	1960–1989	DDG37
Luce USS Luce (DDG-38) The third USS Luce was a Farragut class guided missile destroyer in the United States Navy. It was named for Rear Admiral Stephen B. Luce .-History:...	DLG-7	DDG-38	Farragut	1961–1991	DDG38
Macdonough USS Macdonough (DDG-39) USS MacDonough named for Commodore Thomas Macdonough was the 4th ship of the United States Navy to be named for him.The fourth Macdonough was projected as DL-8, but redesignated DLG-8 prior to keel laying by the Fore River Shipyard, Bethlehem Steel Co., Quincy, Massachusetts, 16 April 1958;...	DLG-8	DDG-39	Farragut	1961–1992	DDG39
Coontz USS Coontz (DDG-40) USS Coontz was a Farragut-class destroyer leader/frigate in the United States Navy. She was named after Admiral Robert Coontz, the US Navy's second chief of naval operations....	DLG-9	DDG-40	Farragut	1960–1989	DDG40
King USS King (DDG-41) USS King was a Farragut-class guided missile destroyer leader. She was named for Fleet Admiral Ernest Joseph King USN ,...	DLG-10	DDG-41	Farragut	1960–1991	DDG41
Mahan USS Mahan (DDG-42) USS Mahan , named for Rear Admiral Alfred Thayer Mahan USN , was a Farragut-class guided missile frigate laid down as DLG-11 by the San Francisco Naval Shipyard on July 31, 1957, launched on October 7, 1959 by Mrs. H. P. Smith, wife of Vice Adm. H. Page Smith, and commissioned on December 25, 1960...	DLG-11	DDG-42	Farragut	1960–1993	DDG42
Dahlgren USS Dahlgren (DDG-43) USS Dahlgren was a Farragut-class destroyer launched 16 March 1960 by Philadelphia Naval Shipyard and sponsored by Mrs. Katharine D. Cromwell, granddaughter of Rear Admiral John Adolphus Dahlgren. She was commissioned 8 April 1961, Commander C. E...	DLG-12	DDG-43	Farragut	1961–1992	DDG43
William V. Pratt USS William V. Pratt (DDG-44) USS William V. Pratt was a Farragut-class destroyer in the service of the United States Navy. She was commissioned in 1961 as DLG-13 and reclassified as a guided missile destroyer, designation DDG-44, in 1975. She was named to honor Admiral William Veazie Pratt, a President of the Naval War...	DLG-13	DDG-44	Farragut	1961–1991	DDG44
Dewey USS Dewey (DDG-45) USS Dewey was a ship in the United States Naval Service. She was named to honor George Dewey, the United States' only Admiral of the Navy. She was the third of four ships whose namesake was Admiral Dewey. The ship's motto was The First and Finest.-Construction and design:Dewey was laid down 10...	DLG-14	DDG-45	Farragut	1959–1990	DDG45
Preble USS Preble (DDG-46) USS Preble was a destroyer in the United States Naval Service. She was the fifth ship named to honor after Commodore Edward Preble . Preble was laid down by Bath Iron Works, Bath, Maine, 16 December 1957. She was launched 23 May 1959 and sponsored by Mrs. Ralph E. Wilson...	DLG-15	DDG-46	Farragut	1960–1991	DDG46
Leahy USS Leahy (DLG-16) USS Leahy was the lead ship of her class of destroyer leaders in the United States Navy. She was named for Fleet Admiral William D. Leahy.-Construction:...	DLG-16	CG-16	Leahy Leahy class cruiser Leahy class cruisers were a class of guided missile cruisers built for the United States Navy. They were originally designated as DLG destroyers, but in the 1975 cruiser realignment, they were reclassified as guided missile cruisers .-Description:...	1962–1993	CG16
Harry E. Yarnell USS Harry E. Yarnell (CG-17) USS Harry E. Yarnell , a Leahy-class guided missile cruiser, was a ship of the United States Navy named in honor of Admiral Harry E. Yarnell . Originally called a "destroyer leader" or frigate, in 1975 she was redesignated a cruiser in the Navy's ship reclassification.-Construction:Harry E...	DLG-17	CG-17	Leahy	1963–1993	CG17
Worden USS Worden (CG-18) The fourth USS Worden , a , was a ship of the United States Navy named in honor of Admiral John L. Worden. Originally called a "destroyer leader" or frigate, in 1975 she was redesignated a cruiser in the Navy's ship reclassification....	DLG-18	CG-18	Leahy	1963–1993	CG18
Dale USS Dale (DLG-19) USS Dale was a United States Navy 5670-ton Leahy class cruiser. Dale was named in honor of Commodore Richard Dale .-History:...	DLG-19	CG-19	Leahy	1963–1994	CG19
Richmond K. Turner USS Richmond K. Turner (CG-20) USS Richmond K. Turner was a Leahy class destroyer leader in the United States Navy. The ship was named for Admiral Richmond K. Turner, who served during World War II....	DLG-20	CG-20	Leahy	1964–1995	CG20
Gridley USS Gridley (DLG-21) USS Gridley , a Leahy-class guided missile frigate, was the third ship of the United States Navy to be named for Charles Vernon Gridley, who distinguished himself with Admiral George Dewey's force at the Battle of Manila Bay on 1 May 1898....	DLG-21	CG-21	Leahy	1963–1994	CG21
England USS England (DLG-22) The second USS England , a Leahy-class guided missile cruiser, was a ship of the United States Navy named in honor of Ensign John C. England. Originally called a "destroyer leader" or frigate, in 1975 she was re-designated a cruiser in the Navy's 1975 ship reclassification.Ensign John Charles...	DLG-22	CG-22	Leahy	1963–1994	CG22
Halsey USS Halsey (DLG-23) The first USS Halsey , a Leahy-class guided missile cruiser, was a ship of the United States Navy named in honor of Fleet Admiral William Halsey...	DLG-23	CG-23	Leahy	1963–1994	CG23
Reeves USS Reeves (DLG-24) USS Reeves ,a United States Navy ship named for Admiral Joseph Mason Reeves , was a Leahy-class cruiser built by the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, in Bremerton, Washington....	DLG-24	CG-24	Leahy	1964–1993	CG24
Bainbridge USS Bainbridge (CGN-25) USS Bainbridge was the only ship of her class. Initially a guided missile destroyer leader in the United States Navy, she was re-designated as a guided missile cruiser in 1975. This ship was nuclear-powered.-Construction:...	DLGN-25	CGN-25	Bainbridge Bainbridge class cruiser ' was a nuclear-powered version of the double-ended guided missile frigate. Originally a guided missile destroyer leader, the class was re-designated guided missile cruiser in 1975...	1962–1996	CGN25
Belknap	DLG-26	CG-26	Belknap Belknap class cruiser The Belknap class cruiser was a class of single-ended guided missile cruisers built for the United States Navy during the 1960s...	1964–1995	CG26
Josephus Daniels USS Josephus Daniels (CG-27) USS Josephus Daniels was a Belknap-class destroyer leader / cruiser. Named for Josephus Daniels, Secretary of the Navy during World War I. She was launched as DLG-27, a frigate, and reclassified Cruiser on 30 June 1975....	DLG-27	CG-27	Belknap	1965–1994	CG27
Wainwright	DLG-28	CG-28	Belknap	1966–1993	CG28
Jouett	DLG-29	CG-29	Belknap	1966–1994	CG29
Horne USS Horne (CG-30) USS Horne was a Belknap-class destroyer leader / cruiser. Named for Admiral Frederick J. Horne, 1880-1959. She was launched as DLG-30, a frigate, and reclassified Cruiser on 30 June 1975....	DLG-30	CG-30	Belknap	1967–1994	CG30
Sterett USS Sterett (CG-31) USS Sterett was a Belknap-class destroyer leader / cruiser. She was the third ship to be named for Master Commandant Andrew Sterett , who served during the Quasi-War with France and the Barbary Wars...	DLG-31	CG-31	Belknap	1967–1994	CG31
William H. Standley USS William H. Standley (CG-32) USS William H. Standley was a Belknap-class destroyer leader / cruiser. She was named for Admiral William Harrison Standley, former Chief of Naval Operations and ambassador to the Soviet Union. She was launched as DLG-32, a frigate, and reclassified Cruiser on 30 June 1975.The contract to...	DLG-32	CG-32	Belknap	1966–1994	CG32
Fox	DLG-33	CG-33	Belknap	1966–1994	CG33
Biddle	DLG-34	CG-34	Belknap	1967–1993	CG34
Truxtun	DLGN-35	CGN-35	Truxtun Truxtun class cruiser The Truxtun class cruiser was a nuclear-powered class of single-ended guided missile cruisers based on a heavily modified version of the Belknap class...	1967–1995	CGN35
California USS California (CGN-36) USS California , the lead ship of the California-class of nuclear-powered guided missile cruisers, was the seventh warship of the United States Navy to be named for the State of California....	DLGN-36	CGN-36	California California class cruiser The California class cruisers were a set of two of nuclear-powered guided missile cruisers operated by the United States Navy between 1974 and 1998. Other than their nuclear power supply and lack of helicopter hangars, ships of the California class were comparable to other guided missile cruisers...	1974–1999	CGN36
South Carolina USS South Carolina (CGN-37) USS South Carolina was the second ship of the California-class of nuclear powered guided missile cruisers in the United States Navy.... *	DLGN-37	CGN-37	California	1975–1999	CGN37
Virginia USS Virginia (CGN-38) USS Virginia was a nuclear-powered guided missile cruiser, the lead ship of her class, and the eighth ship of the United States Navy to be named for the Commonwealth of Virginia.-Construction:... **	DLGN-38	CGN-38	Virginia Virginia class cruiser The Virginia-class nuclear guided-missile cruisers were a series of four double-ended guided-missile cruisers commissioned in the late 1970s, which served in the US Navy until the mid- to late-1990s...	1976–1994	CGN38
Texas USS Texas (CGN-39) USS Texas was the second Virginia-class nuclear guided missile cruiser. She was the third ship of the United States Navy to be named in honor of Texas.-Construction:... **	DLGN-39	CGN-39	Virginia	1977–1993	CGN39
Mississippi USS Mississippi (CGN-40) USS Mississippi , a Virginia class, nuclear fuel powered, U.S. Navy guided-missile cruiser, was the fourth ship of the United States Navy named in honor of the 20th state admitted to the Union.... **	DLGN-40	CGN-40	Virginia	1978–1997	CGN40
Arkansas USS Arkansas (CGN-41) The fourth USS Arkansas was a Virginia-class nuclear-powered guided missile cruiser of the United States Navy, in service during the 1980s and 1990s.-Construction:... **	DLGN-41	CGN-41	Virginia	1980–1998	CGN41

*South Carolina was the last ship commissioned as a DL type.

**Ordered as DLGN, reclassifed as CGN prior to commissioning.