American destroyer escorts and British Captain-class frigates

American destroyer escorts adapted information from British escort-development programs, in an effort close to a joint Anglo-American construction program. Evarts and Buckley ships served with the Royal Navy as Captain-class frigates. The same vessels could therefore fall under different national classifications. In this example, choosing between destroyer escort and frigate reflects terminology more than a fundamental difference in role. Fleet destroyers supplied battle strength with the main force, while escorts performed the wider wartime duties needed to sustain it.