Tin Cans and Greyhounds

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For men on destroyer-class warships during World War I and II, battles were fought against overwhelming odds. Lieutenant Commander Robert Copeland conveyed this reality to his crew as their unarmored destroyer escort charged toward formidable Japanese battleships at the Battle off Samar on October 25, 1944. This gripping narrative history invites readers into the world of destroyer-class ships, introducing the brave men who operated the guns, torpedoes, and depth charges aboard these vessels. Known as "tin cans" or "greyhounds," destroyers were vital to America's military successes. The story begins with their origins as torpedo boats in 1874 and culminates in World War II, showcasing the riveting experiences of the Destroyer Men who faced death from various threats. While the British invented destroyers and the Japanese improved them, it was the Americans who perfected these ships as formidable fighting machines in both world wars. The text compares the designs of destroyers from different nations, focusing on the modified World War I vessels and the numerous World War II destroyers of the United States. It highlights their roles in combating submarines, escorting convoys, rescuing personnel, downing aircraft, and engaging heavily armed battleships, all while just a half-inch of steel separated the crews from perilous ocean depths.