The Destroyer Leader ( DLG ) class is more comparable in size to a World War II cruiser than a destroyer. Originally termed a “Frigate” by the US Navy, contrary to other navies for which the term Frigate was reserved for a standard “destroyer sized” ship which specialized in ASW, the DLG class was designed as a fast-carrier task group AAW defense ship and succeeded the DL class which was not missile armed. The DLG class consisted of only ten ships all of which were later redesignated DDGs.