ðə jˈuːs ʌv ðɪs klˈæs hɐz fˈeɪdᵻd fɹʌm ɪts pˈiːk ɪnðə fˈɜːst hˈæf ʌvðə twˈɛntiəθ sˈɛntʃɚɹi æz ðə ɹˈoʊlz ænd wˈɛpənɹi ʌv smˈɔːl kˈɑːmbætənts hæv ɪvˈɑːlvd ɪn kəndʒˈʌŋkʃən wɪð tˌɛknəlˈɑːdʒɪkəl ɐdvˈænsᵻz ɪn pɹəpˈʌlʃən ɹᵻlˌaɪəbˈɪlᵻɾi ænd ɪfˈɪʃənsi.
The use of this class has faded from its peak in the first half of the 20th century as the roles and weaponry of small combatants have evolved (in conjunction with technological advances in propulsion reliability and efficiency).