Destroyer

Destroyers are intermediary warships intended to fight during naval engagements as well as escort other vessels like transport ships and battleships. Many of the races of Azeroth and have their own variant of the destroyer class.

The commanders of Lunarfall and Frostwall can also build destroyers at their garrison shipyard. They are good against submarines and weak against battleships.

Elven destroyers were powerful warships from the fleets of Quel'Thalas. Crewed with highly-skilled elven seafarers, these swift-sailing vessels were prepared to engage the enemy wherever they might be found. Elven destroyers constituted a critical part of the Alliance naval defense force as they could unleash their firepower upon dreaded aerial forces of the Horde.

The blood elves later reclaimed a few destroyers, the ones that were reclaimed receiving new red sails instead of the classical blue with a unicorn image.

Elven destroyers of the trireme hull type employ "junk sails" in a "schooner rig". This sail configuration is characterized by good windward handling and generally good speed across all sailing points (but less from running with the wind). This is consistent with the idea that the elven destroyer is a fast, highly maneuverable warship.

Many ruined older elven destroyers could be found in World of Warcraft. With The Burning Crusade, an intact blood elven destroyer could be found anchored in Sunsail Anchorage in Eversong Woods, amidst the wreckage of the high elven destroyers of old. More and more ships were then added later.

Azeroth:

• Flying Osprey to the south of Menethil Harbor, Wetlands
• Dawn Runner in Tidefury Cove, Dustwallow Marsh
• Silvermoon's Pride in Sun's Reach Harbor, Isle of Quel'Danas
• The Sin'loren in the waters north of the Sun's Reach Harbor, Isle of Quel'Danas
• The Bloodoath in the waters north of the Sun's Reach Harbor, Isle of Quel'Danas
• The Dawnchaser in the waters north of the Sun's Reach Harbor, Isle of Quel'Danas
• The Crimson Dawn in the southern reaches of the Sea Reaver's Run, Hrothgar's Landing
• The Firehawk in the middle of the Sea Reaver's Run, Hrothgar's Landing
• The Silver Blade in the southern reaches of the Sea Reaver's Run, Hrothgar's Landing
• The Wavecrest in the middle of the Sea Reaver's Run, Hrothgar's Landing
• Crimson Treader in the Greymist Firth, Isle of Thunder
• Starchaser in the Greymist Firth, Isle of Thunder
• Salabria in the Greymist Firth, Isle of Thunder

The troll destroyers (also known as wave riders) were swift, ill-visaged longboats designed to cut through enemy armadas and deal damage to enemy vessels and their flying support. The savage troll crewmen were eager to enter into combat against Alliance ships of war and hungrily awaited any chance to stand mast to mast against the elven destroyers.

Small canoe-like troll ships appear in Cataclysm and Mists of Pandaria, seemingly inspired by them, but much smaller and unarmed. Large ships belonging to Zul's war fleet seen at Stormsea Landing and the Isle of Giants seem to be based on a similar design, though mainly built for transport. The Golden Fleet has both troll destroyers and troll battleships.

Human destroyers (also known as icebreakers) are massive paddlewheel-driven behemoths functioning on steam power and originally built to get through the icy waters of Northrend. To accomplish this they have a ram similar to a battleship.

They can be seen at Menethil Harbor, Stormwind Harbor, Valgarde, Valiance Keep, Venture Bay, the Strand of the Ancients, the Isle of Conquest and Highbank.

It is possible that the steam powerplant and paddlewheel system for these ships had, at the very least, dwarven or gnomish technical expertise in their design, as both races have considerable experience with steam power.

Early in development, they were previously reported to be called "steamships".

Azeroth:

• The Stormbreaker in Valiance Keep, Borean Tundra
• The Kraken in Valiance Keep, Borean Tundra or Stormwind Harbor, Stormwind City
• The Assurance in Stormwind Harbor, Stormwind City
• The Bellipotent marooned at the Merchant Coast, near Ratchet
• Blackpool marooned off the Northern Barrens, near Northwatch Hold
• Northspear in Valgarde, Howling Fjord or Menethil Harbor, Wetlands
• The Graceful Maiden in Strand of the Ancients
• The Frostbreaker in Strand of the Ancients

, Alliance:

• Bladefist's Undoing
• Greymane's Pride
• Leap of Faith
• Loken's Bargain
• Moira's Hammer
• Mrgrggrgl Mark III
• Ra-Den's Lightning
• Rage of the Storm
• Tempest's Wake
• Thaurissan's Reach
• The Awakener
• The Cutting Edge
• The Surging Mist
• Tiger's Palm
• Tortolla's Shield
• Turalyon's Hope
• Tyr's Hand
• Ursoc's Roar
• Ursol's Bite
• Whisperwind
• Yrel's Command

Orc destroyers are small spiked craft. These ships have also been called "gunships", though that name normally refers to the flying crafts.

Wayward Landing was an area, removed from the beta stage of Mists of Pandaria, that was under attack by Horde forces led by Grothok Blackcrag, who had the title "Destroyer Captain".

Azeroth:

• Draka's Fury in Lost Isles
• Gorrok's Lament in Vashj'ir
• Galerek's Remorse in Vashj'ir
• The Iron Reaper in Vashj'ir
• Stygian Bounty in Vashj'ir
• The Sea Wolf, during Theramore's Fall
• Warchief's Fist, sunken
• Bladefist Reaper, sunken near the Jade Forest
• Stygian Scar, sunken near the Jade Forest

, Horde:

• Bad Juju
• Bladefist's Undoing
• Durotan's Pride
• Leap of Faith
• Loken's Bargain
• Lor'themar's Arrow
• Mrgrggrgl Mark III
• Ra-Den's Lightning
• Tempest's Wake
• Thaurissan's Reach
• The Awakener
• The Dawnchaser
• The Shadow Hunter
• The Shattered Sun
• The Surging Mist
• Tiger's Palm
• Tortolla's Shield
• Tyr's Hand
• Ursoc's Roar
• Ursol's Bite
• Vol'jin's Glaive

, Iron Horde:

• Iron Wolf
• Iron Wolf, Mk II
• Iron Wolf, Mk III
• Blood Tempest
• Mutilator
• Gutshredder

, pirates:

• The Sea Jewel
• The Laughing Axe

The arakkoa of the Order of the Awakened were known to have at least a destroyer, The Awakener. It was a powerful ship with large cannons, able to counter both submarines and battleships. Both Alliance and Horde commanders could buy its allegiance.

Elven destroyers are heavy, iron-clad warships that can quickly carry a half-dozen heavy cannon to any point on a coastline and bombard a target into submission. The destroyer moves at 20 miles per hour and has a crew of 7 (1 pilot and 6 gunners).