When you head to your pantry and grab a can of soup take a look at what it comes in, a tin can. It is made from a proven design, is easy to make, maximizes resources, and is in expensive.

The Navy destroyer was built with this original concept, thrifty, easy to build, proven design, and maximize resources. Destroyers were small ships and not built to any degree like a battleships. They were fast, easy to handle, and lightly armed. Compared to a battleship or even a cruiser they were thin skinned and felt like they were made of tin.

They were made to find other surface ships and harass them until the big boys could get their guns into action. These ships were considered by some as cannon fodder. Their job was to cause problems and distract the enemy. This was not always the best job to have in the time of the dreadnaughts.

During World War II the tin can came of age. They helped save the fleet from submarines and provide warning of approaching aircraft. They stood out in the vast ocean with their radars looking for hostile threats while the remainder of the fleet as with its air cover. In many ways a tin can during WWII was expendable.

Today’s tin cans are much different from those of old. While still small and fast, they are by no means expendable. Tin can in the fleet has a double meaning. First it is something cheap and quick. Secondly a ship that can and will get the job done, no matter the cost. There are sailors, marines, and soldiers who owe their life to the Tin Can. It may have started life as something that would be tossed away, but today it is a very important part of the fleet and its overall operation.