Destroyer vs. Dreadnought — What's the Difference?

In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast, maneuverable, long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, convoy or battle group and defend them against powerful short range attackers. They were originally developed in the late 19th century by Fernando Villaamil for the Spanish Navy as a defense against torpedo boats, and by the time of the Russo-Japanese War in 1904, these "torpedo boat destroyers" (TBDs) were "large, swift, and powerfully armed torpedo boats designed to destroy other torpedo boats".

The dreadnought (also spelled dreadnaught) was the predominant type of battleship in the early 20th century. The first of the kind, the Royal Navy's HMS Dreadnought, had such an impact when launched in 1906 that similar battleships built after her were referred to as "dreadnoughts", and earlier battleships became known as pre-dreadnoughts.

A small, fast warship, especially one equipped for a defensive role against submarines and aircraft.

A battleship armed with six or more guns having calibers of 12 inches or more.

A person or thing that destroys something

A type of acoustic guitar with a larger body and louder sound than typical of most guitars.

One that destroys

A battleship, especially of the World War I era, in which most of the firepower is concentrated in large guns that are of the same caliber.

A small, fast, highly maneuverable warship typically armed with an assortment of weapons such as guns, torpedoes, depth charges, and guided missiles.

(informal) A type of warship heavier in armour or armament than a typical battleship.

That which destroys something.

(music) A type of acoustic guitar with a very large body and a waist that is less pronounced than on other guitar shapes, producing a deep, bold sound.

A small, fast warship with light gun armament, smaller than a cruiser, but bigger than a frigate.

One that is the largest or the most powerful of its kind.

(military) A larger warship with guided missile armament, usually intended for air defence or anti-ship roles. Often, but not always, larger than a frigate and smaller than a cruiser.

A garment made of thick woollen cloth that can defend against storm and cold.

One who destroys, ruins, kills, or desolates.

The cloth itself; fearnaught.

A small fast warship used primarily as an escort to larger vessels and typically armed with a combination of 5-inch guns, torpedos, depth charges, and missiles; formerly identical to the Torpedo-boat destroyer.

A person who fears nothing.

A small fast lightly armored but heavily armed warship

Something that assures against fear.

A person who destroys or ruins or lays waste to;

A British battleship, completed in 1906 - 1907, having an armament consisting of ten 12-inch guns mounted in turrets, and of twenty-four 12-pound quick-fire guns for protection against torpedo boats. This was the first battleship of the type characterized by a main armament of big guns all of the same caliber. She had a displacement of 17,900 tons at load draft, and a speed of 21 knots per hour.

Any battleship having its main armament entirely of big guns all of one caliber. Since the Dreadnought was built, the caliber of the heaviest guns has increased from 12 in. to 13½ in., 14 in., and 15 in., and the displacement of the largest batteships from 18,000 tons to 30,000 tons and upwards. The term superdreadnought is popularly applied to battleships with such increased displacement and gun caliber.

Battleship that has big guns all of the same caliber