US Destroyers and Cruisers have become essentially the same type of ship since the 70's and 80's when the big nuclear cruisers were replaced by the Ticonderoga.
Riddle me this: Why are the USS Spruance (DD) and the USS Vicksburg (CG) built on the same basic hull design?
They are basically the same kind of ship. The US has decided to embrace medium size, long range, relatively fast multi-mission warships powered with gas-turbine engines and armed with cells of vertical-launch missiles. The distinctions between american destroyers and cruisers disappeared with the Virginia and Gearing classes.
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