Naval gunfire support has often come from ships outside the traditional capital-ship category. In a modern fleet with no battleships and few or no cruisers, that category becomes less useful for describing available firepower. Destroyers and frigates remain escorts by lineage and role, yet they may carry the largest naval guns the fleet can bring to a shore-support mission. For shore support, these smaller combatants can become the fleet's practical heavy-gun ships.
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When destroyers and frigates become the biggest guns
With battleships gone and cruisers scarce, destroyers and frigates may carry a navy's heaviest available guns even though they remain escorts by lineage and role.