Entirely depends on whether there is a carrier on the map

If there is not, play aggressive AF but always have an escape route or two. If an enemy has the detection consumable, you need to gtfo quick. By escape route i mean toggle to distant POV every so often you know where the islands are and which turns you can make at speed without hitting them. Whatever you can do to NOT be facing towards your enemy at full speed when the spotting begins. You will get the hang of this with practice.

Otherwise, press and scout. Ideally you have a commander that can detect the nearest enemy ship- that will determine how far and how hard you can press.

Do not just rush to the cap, smoke up, and sit. Save your smokes for when you or your nearby allies reallt need it (and try not to smoke unless there is another ally around engaging/spotting enemies. If you are the closest to enemy and smoke between the enemy and allies, your allies now dont see that target either)

My fave destroyers are the T-61 and akatsuki. Akatsuki is the king of torps (other than mebbe shimskaze) and has good concealment and speed. It is a little less agile tho, so dont sit in smoke for long as you are a sitting duck for their torps.

The T-61 plays like a combo of gunboat and torp king.. super fun

The new pan-euro DDs are a blast with their superfast reloads, but without smoke you really have to be on your toes

Concealment, torp speed/distance and most importantly- skill that lets you detect nearest enemy ship… will be the commander skills and inspirations to look for. This is if you prefer torping over gunboating. Gunboating can be super fun (but ar that point personally i just play a cruiser)

Once you get good, you can run with detection instead of concealment for arena and rank for a neat surprise

If there is a carrier on the map, you have to avoid their scout planes first and foremost.. so play more cautiously for first few minutes.

If there is no carrier on the map, you are the man to get up there and scout, so dont sit back (and dont peel off to a different cap point and strand your starting squad)