The Torsk class destroyers were designed as multi role vessels. The first intended role was to gather intelligence along border areas, and return that information to the fleet. The Second designed role was to act in a hunter killer role against enemy scout ships. Accordingly the Torsk class was designed to be faster than the Krechet class, but more lightly armed as it was intended for fleet actions.Torsk class ships were the first to carry the improved EFTL-6 warp reactor, which was 30% smaller but only 10% less powerful than the EFTL-5 carried by the Krechet class ships.

Because of the narrowly defined roles that the Torsk class ships were designed to play, they were much less expensive to build and operate than the Krechet class cruisers. They carried fewer weapons, had a 35% smaller crew, and were 25% lighter. Fourteen TORSK-class destroyers entered service from February through December 2158. However, they saw little action in their intended roles as Romulan forces withdraw and consolidated in anticipation of an UE Alliance offensive. They were, however, used as radar pickets and scouts when UE Alliance task forces pushed into Romulan territories in the final 2 years of the war, and five were lost in the course of these actions. Torsk ships did well in these limited roles, but were eventually superseded by the significantly more capable and versatile Powhatan class.

The TORSK-class Destroyer UES STINGRAY (CEM-6) is now on display at the Starfleet Museum.

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