Why bother with Destroyers?

[Redstars89]

Why bother with destroyers? Light Cruisers are relatively the same cost in IC but better at killing surface ships and acting as a screen. I have also been told the destroyer techs are largely useless, particularly upgrading the hull of destroyers. One other thing to consider is the fact that light cruisers share the same tech tree as aircraft carriers. Can destroyers be characterized as nothing more than sub hunters?

[wesleytj]

if you anticipate facing a lot of subs from your enemy, then destroyers will perform better for you than light cruisers. If not, then you're better off with light cruisers. Simple as that.

[Pro_Consul]

Light Cruisers are relatively the same cost in IC but better at killing surface ships and acting as a screen.

Better at killing surface ships, yes. Better at acting as a screen, no; that is a wash more or less. And it is not the "same" cost in IC. CLs cost 40% more than DDs in IC-days.

I have also been told the destroyer techs are largely useless, particularly upgrading the hull of destroyers.

Nonsense. DD techs are as useful to DDs as CL techs are to CLs. They are the source of their mission range, AA, detection, sea attack and sub attack abilities.

One other thing to consider is the fact that light cruisers share the same tech tree as aircraft carriers.

Actually, they don't. Each is a requirement for a single one-time doctrinal tech. Other than that their techs are totally separate from each other, both ship techs and doctrines. In addition, DDs have the same relationship with BBs, so if you are building a BB-based navy, then DDs occupy the same position in this regard that CLs do for carrier-based fleets.

Can destroyers be characterized as nothing more than sub hunters?

No. Destroyers, with their higher speed, make the best screens for BBs. They increase the average fleet speed, which greatly enhances the ability of the group to close to gun range with the enemy or, when appropriate, escape a bad engagement. They can also be used for a similar purpose with CVs, if maximizing mission range is not a critical issue.