The other two were converted into guided missile destroyers (DDG), served until 1978, and were sold for scrap by 1980.

Beyond that, each ship had a different loadout of propulsion and other systems so as to determine the best course of action for future destroyer design.

The Mitscher class would become the winner in internal Navy debates over competing designs, even as an early concept in 1945.

With their development the CL-154 class anti aircraft cruisers would be canceled, and no further Norfolks would be built; in both cases the decisions were made on cost-effectiveness grounds.

The first two ships, Mitscher and John S. McCain, were converted into guided missile destroyers under SCB 241 in the mid-1960s.