>>64181244
Destroyers were originally called "Torpedo Boat Destroyers", and were created as such, sinking torpedo boats swarms that can overwhelm big battleships. They were not meant to engage cruisers head on due to the cruiser's superior firepower and range.
Nowadays it doesn't really matter since almost all modern destroyers are cruiser-sized and armed to the teeth, they just don't want to be called cruiser due to politics or some bullshit. Some of those from Japan are literally carriers but are still called destroyers.