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On December 7, 1941, the USN had 171 destroyers in commission.

One third of these were of World War One vintage, the famous "Liberty" or "flush-deck class of which 272 had been built. Between the wars 12 had been lost and 93 had been scrapped under the terms of the London Naval Disarmament Treaty of 1930. An additional 46 were serving in subsidary duties and 50 had been traded to the Royal Navy in 1940. Leaving 71 in service.

The remaining ships were all built after 1932.

One feature of US destroyers was that they were built for a Pacific War. The scarcity of land bases meant that some means of overcoming the vast distances involved had to be found. One solution was the development of the fleet train that allowed the USN to strike anywhere in the Pacific. Another was building extended ranges into their ships. For example, a contemporary British F-class destroyer had a range of 6,000 miles at 15 knots. The US Craven-class destroyer had a range of 9,000 miles at the same speed. All US destroyers were equipped to refuel at sea.

Allen-class. Sole survivor of the pre-flush deck destroyers. Spent the war at Pearl Harbor as a training vessel and scrapped in 1946.

Clemson-class; also known as the Liberty or Flush-Deck class. Displacement ranged from 1,090 to 1,190 tons. Armed with four 4-inch/50 rifles and a single 3-inch/23 AA gun and four triple torpedo mounts. Spent most of the war as convoy escorts or modified into fast landing ships or minesweepers. During 1941-42, they fought against terrible odds in the Philippines and Java. One, the USS Stewart was captured in dry dock and served the war with the IJN. Recovered after the war, she was sunk as a target in 1946. Eighteen were sunk.

Farragut-class. A group of 8 built in 1934. Displacement of 1,395 tons. Introduced the 5-inch/38 DP gun and quad mounted tubes. Initially mounted five 5-inch/38s and two quad mount torpedos. One 5-incher was removed to make room (and weight) for increased AA armament. Three were sunk during the war.

Porter-class. A class of 8 built in 1935 and designed as squadron leaders. Introduced the twin 5-ich/38 mount. Fitted with 4 twin gun mounts and two quad mount torpedoes. Displaced 1,850 tons. Later modified with one twin 5-inch being replaced with a single mount and increased AA armament. One was lost.

Mahan-class. Entering service in 1935, this class of 18 was initially armed with 5 single mount 5-inchers and three quad mounted torpedoes. Later modified with the removal of one 5-incher and two torpedo mounts to allow for increased AA armament. Displaced 1,500 tons. Five were sunk.

Somers-class. Built in 1937, this class of 5 were improved Porters. Displaced 1,850 tons. Started with four twin 5-inch mounts and three quad torpedoe tubes. Later lost one quad mount in favor of increased AA armament. One was lost.

Craven-class, also known as the Gridley-class. Entering service in 1936, this was a class of 22. Displaced 1,500 tons. Armed with four 5-inch single mounts and four quad torpedo tubes. Little changed during the war, although two torpedo mounts were replaced with AA guns. Four were sunk.

Sims-class. Entered service in 1938 as a class of 12 ships. Improved Benham-class armed with five single mount 5-inch/38s and three quad mounted torpedo tubes. Later lost one torpedo mount in favor of AA guns. Displaced 1,570 tons. Five were sunk during the war.

Benson-Livermore-class. Entered service starting in 1939, these two classes totaled 96 vessels (32 Benson and 64 Livermore). Bensons displaced 1,620 tons and Livermores displaced 1,630 tons. Differed only in minor details. Armed with four single 5-inchers and one quintuple torpedo mount. Some were built with two torpedo mounts, but this was quickly removed. Fourteen were lost in the war.

Fletcher-class. This class of 179 started entering service in 1942. The mainstay of the US Pacific Fleet for most of the war. Displaced 2,050 tons and armed with five single mount 5-inch/38s and two quituple torpedo mounts. Towards the end of the war, one torpedo mount was removed in favor of increased AA armament. Twenty were sunk.

Allen M. Summers-class. Entering service in 1943 as a class of 58. These were improved Fletchers armed with three twin 5-inch/38s and two quintuple torpedo mounts. Later lost a torpedo mount, replaced with additional AA guns. Displaced 2,200 tons. Not consider to be successful due to weight problems. Four were sunk.

Gearing-class. Entered service in 1945 as a class of 105. Displaced 2,425 tons. Armed with three twin 5-inch/38s and two quintuple torpedo mounts, later reduced to one torpedo mount and additional AA guns. None were lost.

US destroyers were powerfully armed with dual purpose guns and a strong torpedo armament. As the war progressed, torpedoes were replaced with larger numbers of 40mm and 20mm mounts. They were also noted for an excellent ASW capability with one of the best sonars of the war as well as a heavy depth charge (and later Hedgehog) armament.

All-in-all, well capable of fighting the Pacific War.