To update Webster 1913's entry, in modern navies a corvette is the smallest class of capital ship, displacing approximately 1000 tons, and armed with missles, depth charges, and one or more guns of 5 inches or less. Fast and highly maneuverable, corvettes are used for scouting, escort, quick strike and anti-submarine operations. The smallest capital ship used by the US Navy is the frigate, but corvettes have been used in recent years by the Russian, British, Canadian, and Chinese navies, among others.