Type 45 destroyer
Encyclopedia
The United Kingdom
's Type 45 destroyer (also known as the D or Daring class) is an air defence
destroyer
programme of the Royal Navy
which will replace its Type 42 destroyer
s. The first ship in the class, HMS Daring
, was launched on 1 February 2006 and commissioned on 23 July 2009. The ships are now built by BAE Systems Surface Ships. The first three ships were assembled by BAE Systems Surface Fleet Solutions from partially prefabricated "blocks" built at different ship yards.
The UK originally sought to procure air defence ships as part of the eight-nation NFR-90
project and later the Horizon Common New Generation Frigate
programme with France
and Italy
. The Type 45s take advantage of some Horizon development work and utilise the Sea Viper missile system (the SAMPSON radar
variant of the Principal Anti-Air Missile System). In 2009, delivery of the ships' Aster
missiles was delayed due to a failure during testing. A subsequent investigation revealed a manufacturing fault with a single batch of missiles and delivery of the Aster 30 is back on schedule.
In an "intensive attack" a single Type 45 could simultaneously track, engage and destroy more targets than five Type 42 destroyers operating together. The Daring class are the largest escorts ever built for the Royal Navy in terms of displacement.Largest in terms of displacement
; however the County-class
destroyers were some 6 metres longer, and the Type 82 destroyer
was 2 metres longer. After Darings launch on 1 February 2006 former First Sea Lord
, Admiral Sir Alan West
stated that it would be the Royal Navy's most capable destroyer ever, as well as the world's best air-defence ship. The reduction in the number to be procured from 12 eventually down to six (in 2008) was hugely controversial.
project which later collapsed. The UK then joined France
and Italy
in the Horizon CNGF programme; however, differing national requirements, workshare arguments and delays led to the UK withdrawing on 26 April 1999 and starting its own national project. On 23 November 1999 Marconi Electronic Systems
was confirmed as prime contractor
for the Type 45 project. Seven days later MES and British Aerospace
merged to form BAE Systems
, making the latter the prime contractor.
The Type 45 project has been criticised for rising costs and delays, with the ships costing £6.46 billion, an increase of £1.5 billion (29%) on the original budget. The first ship entered service in 2010, rather than 2007 as initially planned. In 2007 the Defence Select Committee
expressed its disappointment that the MoD
and BAE had failed to control rising costs.
they replace, displacing about 7,350 tonnes compared to 5,200 tonnes of the Type 42. The Type 45 destroyers are the first British warships built to meet the hull requirements of Lloyd's Register
's Naval Rules. BAE Systems is the Design Authority for the Type 45, a role traditionally held by the UK Ministry of Defence
. The design of the Type 45 brings new levels of radar signature reduction to the Royal Navy, with deck equipment and life rafts concealed behind superstructure panels producing a very "clean" superstructure similar to the French La Fayette class
of frigates. The mast is sparingly equipped externally.
The Type 45 design uses the Principal Anti-Air Missile System (PAAMS
), a joint British, French and Italian design. PAAMS consists of a SAMPSON
fire control and tracking radar, MBDA Aster
15 and 30 missile systems and a 48-cell SYLVER
vertical missile launcher, giving both short-range and long-range anti-air capability. The PAAMS system is able to control and coordinate several missiles in the air at once, allowing several tracks to be intercepted, and the SYLVER missile launcher can be upgraded to add more modern weapons if necessary. It has been suggested that the SAMPSON radar is capable of tracking an object the size of a cricket
ball travelling at three times the speed of sound. Admiral Sir Mark Stanhope has talked of the RN's pride in a Type 45 being asked to switch off PAAMS because it was "constraining the training" in exercises with US forces.
Although the Type 45 represents a significant improvement to air defences, her anti-ship capability is currently limited to the single medium calibre gun
and helicopter-borne Sea Skua
missiles.
Guns
Anti-ship
Anti-submarine
Land attack
Countermeasures
Communications
METOC Meteorology
and Oceanography
Aircraft
Other
) have supplied power to their electric motors using DC
, and ship's electrical load, where necessary at all, was either separately supplied or was supplied as DC with a large range of voltage. Integrated electric propulsion seeks to supply all propulsion and ship's electrical load via AC
at a high quality of voltage and frequency. This is achieved by computerised control, high quality transformation and electrical filtering.
Two Rolls-Royce
WR-21 gas turbine
alternator
s and two Wärtsilä
12V200 diesel generators provide electrical power at 4,160 volts to a high voltage system. The high voltage supply is then used to provide power to two Converteam
advanced induction motors with outputs of 20 MW each. Ship's services, including hotel load and weapons system power supplies are transformed down from the high voltage supply to 440 V or 115 V.
The benefits of integrated electric propulsion are cited as:
Key to the efficient use of a single prime mover is the choice of a gas turbine that provides efficiency over a large load range; the WR21 gas turbine incorporates compressor intercooling
and exhaust heat recuperation
, making it significantly more efficient than previous marine gas turbines, especially at low and medium load.
The combination of greater efficiency and plenty of fuel storage give an endurance of 7000 nautical miles (12,964 km) at 18 knots (35.3 km/h). High power density, coupled with the hydrodynamic efficiency of a longer hull form, allows for sustained high speed; It has been reported that Daring reached her design speed of 29 knots (57 km/h) in 70 seconds and achieved a speed of 31.5 knots (62 km/h) in 120 seconds during sea-trials in August 2007.
shipyards and single Portsmouth
shipyard are responsible for different "blocks". The largest and most complex blocks containing the operations and machinery spaces are being constructed at BAE's shipyards on the Clyde
.
BAE's Govan
yard is responsible for Block A (stern to edge of helicopter hangar). The Scotstoun
yard builds Blocks B/C (a 2600 tonne section which contains the WR-21 gas turbines, starts with the helicopter hangar to the bridge section) and Block D (bridge section). BAE's Portsmouth shipyard is responsible for Blocks E/F (bridge to the bow) and the funnels and masts. For Ships 2-6, blocks A-D are assembled in the Ships Block and Outfit Hall of the Govan shipyard and taken fully outfitted to the Scotstoun berth. The masts and funnels are also fitted before launch.
For the first-of-class, Block A was assembled at Govan and moved to Scotstoun where it was mated to the Block B/C, which was already fitted with the WR-21 turbines and machinery. Block D, also assembled at Scotstoun, was fitted to these three blocks. The bow sections (E/F) were mated at Portsmouth
and taken by barge
to Scotstoun. This was the final block to be attached. At this point the hull was launched into the Clyde
and towed to the Scotstoun Dry Dock where the masts and funnels were fitted (the masts are partially outfitted with equipment, for example the mast for the S1850M
radar is sent from Portsmouth to Thales Nederland
to be fitted with radar equipment). Once this is complete the remaining equipment was fitted; radar arrays, bow-mounted sonar
, propellers, missile equipment and 4.5-inch gun
.
This modular construction arrangement was agreed in February 2002. However, when the original contract for three ships was signed in July 2000, BAE Systems Marine
was to build the first and third ships, and Vosper Thornycroft (now VT) was to build the second.
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Six ships have been ordered, and transfer of custody of the first happened on 10 December 2008. The MOD's initial planning assumption was to procure twelve ships (essentially a like for like replacement of a similar number of Type 42s), with the size of the second batch being determined between 2005 and 2010. However this was reduced to eight ships in the 2003 defence white paper
entitled Delivering Security in a Changing World: Future Capabilities
. It was reported in December 2006 that the last two could be cut. In July 2007 Ministry of Defence officials stated that they "still planned to build eight Type 45 destroyers" and that "the extra two ships were still included in planning assumptions". This plan was officially abandoned on 19 June 2008 when the Minister
for the Armed Forces, Bob Ainsworth
, announced in Parliament
that options for the seventh and eighth destroyers would not be taken up. The continual scaling back of the project, first from 12 to 8, and subsequently to 6 ships, has also been criticised for leaving the Royal Navy with insufficient ships to meet its requirements.
On 9 March 2007 The Independent
reported that Saudi Arabia
was considering buying "two or three" Type 45s. On 7 September 2007 it was reported that Saudi Arabian officials have been invited to observe Darings sea trials.
in 1949: Daring, Diamond, and Defender. These three and Duncan were also D-class destroyers
in 1930, while Dauntless and Dragon were s of 1918.
, and were names used for small early destroyers between 1893 and 1911. was a protected cruiser
in 1904, while was a in 1901 and a Type 14 frigate of 1957. All six names have a long history stretching back to earlier wooden warships.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
's Type 45 destroyer (also known as the D or Daring class) is an air defence
Anti-aircraft warfare
NATO defines air defence as "all measures designed to nullify or reduce the effectiveness of hostile air action." They include ground and air based weapon systems, associated sensor systems, command and control arrangements and passive measures. It may be to protect naval, ground and air forces...
destroyer
Destroyer
In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast and maneuverable yet long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, convoy or battle group and defend them against smaller, powerful, short-range attackers. Destroyers, originally called torpedo-boat destroyers in 1892, evolved from...
programme of the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
which will replace its Type 42 destroyer
Type 42 destroyer
The Type 42 or Sheffield class, are guided missile destroyers used by the British Royal Navy and the Argentine Navy. The first ship of the class was ordered in 1968 and launched in 1971, and today three ships remain active in the Royal Navy and one in the Argentinian Navy...
s. The first ship in the class, HMS Daring
HMS Daring (D32)
HMS Daring is the lead ship of the Type 45 or 'D' class of air defence destroyer in the Royal Navy and the seventh ship to hold that name.She was launched in 2006 on the Clyde and conducted contractor's sea trials during 2007 and 2008...
, was launched on 1 February 2006 and commissioned on 23 July 2009. The ships are now built by BAE Systems Surface Ships. The first three ships were assembled by BAE Systems Surface Fleet Solutions from partially prefabricated "blocks" built at different ship yards.
The UK originally sought to procure air defence ships as part of the eight-nation NFR-90
NFR-90
NFR-90 was a multi-national programme designed to produce a common frigate for several NATO nations. However, the varying requirements of the different countries led to the project being abandoned in the early 1990s....
project and later the Horizon Common New Generation Frigate
Horizon class frigate
The Horizon Common New Generation Frigate is a multi-national collaboration to produce a new generation of anti-air warfare frigates. Originally an alliance of Britain, France and Italy, the project is now a French/Italian effort following the withdrawal of Britain due to differing requirements...
programme with France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. The Type 45s take advantage of some Horizon development work and utilise the Sea Viper missile system (the SAMPSON radar
SAMPSON
The SAMPSON is a multi-function AESA radar produced by BAE Systems Integrated System Technologies. The SAMPSON multi function radar system is described by BAE Systems as being a world beating air defence system...
variant of the Principal Anti-Air Missile System). In 2009, delivery of the ships' Aster
MBDA Aster
Aster is a family of surface-to-air missiles manufactured by Eurosam, a European consortium consisting of MBDA France, MBDA Italy and the Thales Group .-Overview:The Aster family was developed to perform three distinct missions:...
missiles was delayed due to a failure during testing. A subsequent investigation revealed a manufacturing fault with a single batch of missiles and delivery of the Aster 30 is back on schedule.
In an "intensive attack" a single Type 45 could simultaneously track, engage and destroy more targets than five Type 42 destroyers operating together. The Daring class are the largest escorts ever built for the Royal Navy in terms of displacement.Largest in terms of displacement
Displacement (ship)
A ship's displacement is its weight at any given time, generally expressed in metric tons or long tons. The term is often used to mean the ship's weight when it is loaded to its maximum capacity. A number of synonymous terms exist for this maximum weight, such as loaded displacement, full load...
; however the County-class
County class destroyer
The County class was a class of guided missile destroyers, the first such vessels built by the Royal Navy. Designed specifically around the Sea Slug anti-aircraft missile system, the primary role of these ships was area air-defence around the aircraft carrier task force in the nuclear-war...
destroyers were some 6 metres longer, and the Type 82 destroyer
Type 82 destroyer
The Type 82 or Bristol-class destroyer was to be a class of four Royal Navy warships intended as area air-defence destroyers to replace the County-class destroyers, and to serve as escorts to the planned CVA-01 aircraft carriers...
was 2 metres longer. After Darings launch on 1 February 2006 former First Sea Lord
First Sea Lord
The First Sea Lord is the professional head of the Royal Navy and the whole Naval Service; it was formerly known as First Naval Lord. He also holds the title of Chief of Naval Staff, and is known by the abbreviations 1SL/CNS...
, Admiral Sir Alan West
Alan West, Baron West of Spithead
Admiral Alan William John West, Baron West of Spithead GCB DSC PC was, from June 2007 to May 2010, a Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the British Home Office with responsibility for Security and a Security Advisor to Prime Minister Gordon Brown...
stated that it would be the Royal Navy's most capable destroyer ever, as well as the world's best air-defence ship. The reduction in the number to be procured from 12 eventually down to six (in 2008) was hugely controversial.
Background
The UK had sought to procure the ships in collaboration with seven other NATO nations under the NFR-90NFR-90
NFR-90 was a multi-national programme designed to produce a common frigate for several NATO nations. However, the varying requirements of the different countries led to the project being abandoned in the early 1990s....
project which later collapsed. The UK then joined France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
in the Horizon CNGF programme; however, differing national requirements, workshare arguments and delays led to the UK withdrawing on 26 April 1999 and starting its own national project. On 23 November 1999 Marconi Electronic Systems
Marconi Electronic Systems
Marconi Electronic Systems , or GEC-Marconi as it was until 1998, was the defence arm of The General Electric Company . It was demerged from GEC and acquired by British Aerospace on November 30, 1999 to form BAE Systems...
was confirmed as prime contractor
General contractor
A general contractor is responsible for the day-to-day oversight of a construction site, management of vendors and trades, and communication of information to involved parties throughout the course of a building project.-Description:...
for the Type 45 project. Seven days later MES and British Aerospace
British Aerospace
British Aerospace plc was a UK aircraft, munitions and defence-systems manufacturer. Its head office was in the Warwick House in the Farnborough Aerospace Centre in Farnborough, Hampshire...
merged to form BAE Systems
BAE Systems
BAE Systems plc is a British multinational defence, security and aerospace company headquartered in London, United Kingdom, that has global interests, particularly in North America through its subsidiary BAE Systems Inc. BAE is among the world's largest military contractors; in 2009 it was the...
, making the latter the prime contractor.
The Type 45 project has been criticised for rising costs and delays, with the ships costing £6.46 billion, an increase of £1.5 billion (29%) on the original budget. The first ship entered service in 2010, rather than 2007 as initially planned. In 2007 the Defence Select Committee
Defence Select Committee
The Defence Select Committee is one of the Select Committees of the British House of Commons, having been established in 1979. It oversees the operations of the Ministry of Defence and its associated public bodies, including the armed forces.-Membership:...
expressed its disappointment that the MoD
Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)
The Ministry of Defence is the United Kingdom government department responsible for implementation of government defence policy and is the headquarters of the British Armed Forces....
and BAE had failed to control rising costs.
General characteristics
The Type 45 destroyers are 152.4 m in length, with a beam of 21.2 m and a draught of 7.4 m. This makes them significantly larger than the Type 42Type 42 destroyer
The Type 42 or Sheffield class, are guided missile destroyers used by the British Royal Navy and the Argentine Navy. The first ship of the class was ordered in 1968 and launched in 1971, and today three ships remain active in the Royal Navy and one in the Argentinian Navy...
they replace, displacing about 7,350 tonnes compared to 5,200 tonnes of the Type 42. The Type 45 destroyers are the first British warships built to meet the hull requirements of Lloyd's Register
Lloyd's Register
The Lloyd's Register Group is a maritime classification society and independent risk management organisation providing risk assessment and mitigation services and management systems certification. Historically, as Lloyd's Register of Shipping, it was a specifically maritime organisation...
's Naval Rules. BAE Systems is the Design Authority for the Type 45, a role traditionally held by the UK Ministry of Defence
Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)
The Ministry of Defence is the United Kingdom government department responsible for implementation of government defence policy and is the headquarters of the British Armed Forces....
. The design of the Type 45 brings new levels of radar signature reduction to the Royal Navy, with deck equipment and life rafts concealed behind superstructure panels producing a very "clean" superstructure similar to the French La Fayette class
La Fayette class frigate
The La Fayette class units are light multi-mission frigates built by DCN and operated by French Marine Nationale...
of frigates. The mast is sparingly equipped externally.
The Type 45 design uses the Principal Anti-Air Missile System (PAAMS
PAAMS
The Principal Anti Air Missile System is a joint French/Italian/British programme for a naval anti-aircraft weapon. The prime contractor is EUROPAAMS, a joint venture between Eurosam and MBDA subsidiary UKAMS . MBDA also owns 66% of Eurosam, in effect giving it a 77% share of the project...
), a joint British, French and Italian design. PAAMS consists of a SAMPSON
SAMPSON
The SAMPSON is a multi-function AESA radar produced by BAE Systems Integrated System Technologies. The SAMPSON multi function radar system is described by BAE Systems as being a world beating air defence system...
fire control and tracking radar, MBDA Aster
MBDA Aster
Aster is a family of surface-to-air missiles manufactured by Eurosam, a European consortium consisting of MBDA France, MBDA Italy and the Thales Group .-Overview:The Aster family was developed to perform three distinct missions:...
15 and 30 missile systems and a 48-cell SYLVER
Sylver
Sylver is a Belgian vocal Trance group best known for the song "Turn the Tide". The group's vocalist is Silvy De Bie and keyboardist/songwriter is Wout Van Dessel . Regi Penxten is the producer and co-songwriter...
vertical missile launcher, giving both short-range and long-range anti-air capability. The PAAMS system is able to control and coordinate several missiles in the air at once, allowing several tracks to be intercepted, and the SYLVER missile launcher can be upgraded to add more modern weapons if necessary. It has been suggested that the SAMPSON radar is capable of tracking an object the size of a cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
ball travelling at three times the speed of sound. Admiral Sir Mark Stanhope has talked of the RN's pride in a Type 45 being asked to switch off PAAMS because it was "constraining the training" in exercises with US forces.
Although the Type 45 represents a significant improvement to air defences, her anti-ship capability is currently limited to the single medium calibre gun
4.5 inch (114 mm) Mark 8 naval gun
The 4.5 inch Mark 8 is a British naval gun system which currently equips the Royal Navy's frigates and some British destroyers and frigates sold to other countries.-Background:...
and helicopter-borne Sea Skua
Sea Skua
The Sea Skua is a British lightweight short-range air-to-surface missile designed for use from helicopters against ships. It is primarily used by the Royal Navy on the Westland Lynx helicopter, although Kuwait uses it in a shore battery and on their Umm Al Maradem fast attack craft.The British...
missiles.
Armament and sensors
Anti-air- Sea ViperPAAMSThe Principal Anti Air Missile System is a joint French/Italian/British programme for a naval anti-aircraft weapon. The prime contractor is EUROPAAMS, a joint venture between Eurosam and MBDA subsidiary UKAMS . MBDA also owns 66% of Eurosam, in effect giving it a 77% share of the project...
missile system- SAMPSONSAMPSONThe SAMPSON is a multi-function AESA radar produced by BAE Systems Integrated System Technologies. The SAMPSON multi function radar system is described by BAE Systems as being a world beating air defence system...
multi-function air tracking radar - S1850MS1850MThe S1850M is a long range radar for wide area search. The S1850M is produced by BAE Systems Integrated System Technologies and Thales. It is a modified version of the Thales Nederland SMART-L radar. The S1850M is advertised as being capable of fully automatic detection, track initiation and...
3DThree-dimensional spaceThree-dimensional space is a geometric 3-parameters model of the physical universe in which we live. These three dimensions are commonly called length, width, and depth , although any three directions can be chosen, provided that they do not lie in the same plane.In physics and mathematics, a...
air surveillance radar - 48× MBDA AsterMBDA AsterAster is a family of surface-to-air missiles manufactured by Eurosam, a European consortium consisting of MBDA France, MBDA Italy and the Thales Group .-Overview:The Aster family was developed to perform three distinct missions:...
missileMissileThough a missile may be any thrown or launched object, it colloquially almost always refers to a self-propelled guided weapon system.-Etymology:The word missile comes from the Latin verb mittere, meaning "to send"...
s (mix of Aster 15 and Aster 30) in six 8-cell SYLVER A50SYLVER launcherThe Sylver is a vertical missile launcher designed by DCNS. The launcher comes in several variants, each distinguished by their height...
(Systeme de Lancement Vertical) vertical launchers.
- SAMPSON
Guns
- 1× BAE Systems 4.5 inch Mk 8 mod 1 gun. The Darings are designed to accommodate a more powerful 155 mm gun upgrade that was studied by the RN in 2008 This 155 TMF programme would have allowed the Navy to share ammunition R&D and logistics with the Army 155 mm gunsAS-90The AS-90 is a lightly armoured self-propelled artillery piece used by the British Army. It was first delivered in 1993...
but was cancelled in the SDSR of 2010. The Type 45 gun will now be upgraded under the Maritime Indirect Fire System programme which will also cover the Type 26 frigate; a decision is due in mid-2012. - 2× OerlikonOerlikon ContravesRheinmetall Air Defence AG is a division of German armament manufacturer Rheinmetall, created when the company's Oerlikon Contraves unit was renamed on 1 January 2009 and integrated with Rheinmetall's other air-defence products...
30 mm KCB guns on single DS-30B mounts. - 2× MinigunMinigunThe Minigun is a 7.62 mm, multi-barrel heavy machine gun with a high rate of fire , employing Gatling-style rotating barrels with an external power source...
s and up to 6× General Purpose Machine GunsFN MAGThe FN MAG is a Belgian 7.62 mm general-purpose machine gun, designed in the early 1950s at Fabrique Nationale by Ernest Vervier. It has been used by more than 80 countries, and it has been made under licence in countries such as Argentina, Egypt, India, Singapore, the United Kingdom and the...
. - 2× PhalanxPhalanx CIWSThe Phalanx CIWS is an anti-ship missile defense system. It is a close-in weapon system and was designed and manufactured by the General Dynamics Corporation, Pomona Division...
20 mm20 mm caliberThe 20 mm caliber is a specific size of cannon or autocannon ammunition, commonly the smallest caliber which is unambiguously a cannon and not a heavy machine gun....
close-in weapons systems (from 2011).
Anti-ship
- Fitted 'for but not withFor but not withFitting "for but not with" is a design concept used by militaries in which a weapon or system called for in a design is not installed or is only partially installed during construction to save on construction costs. The term is usually used in regard to vehicles and ships but sometimes extends to...
' 2× quadruple RGM-84 Harpoon anti-ship missileAnti-ship missileAnti-ship missiles are guided missiles that are designed for use against ships and large boats. Most anti-ship missiles are of the sea-skimming type, many use a combination of inertial guidance and radar homing...
launchers. - The embarked Lynx HMA 8 helicopter(s)Westland LynxThe Westland Lynx is a British multi-purpose military helicopter designed and built by Westland Helicopters at its factory in Yeovil. Originally intended as a utility craft for both civil and naval usage, military interest led to the development of both battlefield and naval variants...
is capable of carrying Sea SkuaSea SkuaThe Sea Skua is a British lightweight short-range air-to-surface missile designed for use from helicopters against ships. It is primarily used by the Royal Navy on the Westland Lynx helicopter, although Kuwait uses it in a shore battery and on their Umm Al Maradem fast attack craft.The British...
anti-ship missiles. - The 4.5 inch Mark 8 naval gun has an anti-ship role.
Anti-submarine
- MFS 7000 sonar
- The embarked Lynx HMA 8 helicopter(s)Westland LynxThe Westland Lynx is a British multi-purpose military helicopter designed and built by Westland Helicopters at its factory in Yeovil. Originally intended as a utility craft for both civil and naval usage, military interest led to the development of both battlefield and naval variants...
or Merlin HM1 helicopterAgustaWestland EH101The AgustaWestland AW101 is a medium-lift helicopter for military applications but also marketed for civil use. The helicopter was developed as a joint venture between Westland Helicopters in the UK and Agusta in Italy...
is capable of carrying Sting Ray torpedoSting Ray torpedoThe Sting Ray torpedo is a current British acoustic homing light-weight torpedo manufactured by GEC-Marconi, who were later bought out by BAE Systems. It entered service in 1983.-Design and development:...
es. The Merlin HM1 helicopter is fitted with its own dipping sonarSonarSonar is a technique that uses sound propagation to navigate, communicate with or detect other vessels...
and carries sonobuoys.
Land attack
- The Type 45 as it stands has no land-attack missile capability and the SYLVER A50 launcher currently has no capability to fire such a missile. However, should the need arise, it would be possible to fit them with the American Mk. 41 VLSVertical Launching SystemA vertical launching system is a system for holding and firing missiles on surface ships and submarines used by many navies around the world. Each VLS system consists of a number of cells, which can hold one or more missiles ready for firing...
, firing the BGM-109 TomahawkBGM-109 TomahawkThe Tomahawk is a long-range, all-weather, subsonic cruise missile. Introduced by General Dynamics in the 1970s, it was designed as a medium- to long-range, low-altitude missile that could be launched from a surface platform. It has been improved several times and, by way of corporate divestitures...
. The Fire Shadow loitering munition is "compatible with the space envelope" of the Type 45's SYLVER cells but does not appear to be under development for naval use at present. - The 4.5 inch Mark 8 naval gun has a naval gunfire supportNaval gunfire supportNaval gunfire support is the use of naval artillery to provide fire support for amphibious assault and other troops operating within their range. NGFS is one of a number of disciplines encompassed by the term Naval Fires...
(NGS) role.
- The SeagnatSeagnatThe Seagnat Control System is a decoy system used on many NATO warships to safeguard against incoming missiles...
decoy system allows for the seduction and distraction of radar guided weapons, through active and passive means. An infra-red 'spoofing' device is planned for future retrofits. - Airborne Systems's IDS300 floating naval decoy system (corner reflectors)
- Surface Ship Torpedo Defence SystemSSTDThe British Surface Ship Torpedo Defence system entered into service with the British Royal Navy in 2004. The system is produced by Ultra Electronics and is known as S2170 by the Royal Navy and as Sea Sentor in the export market.The system consists of...
(SSTD) active torpedo decoy system
Communications
- Fully Integrated Communications System (FICS45) - a combined external and internal communications system supplied by ThalesThales GroupThe Thales Group is a French electronics company delivering information systems and services for the aerospace, defense, transportation and security markets...
and SELEX Communications Ltd.
METOC Meteorology
Meteorology
Meteorology is the interdisciplinary scientific study of the atmosphere. Studies in the field stretch back millennia, though significant progress in meteorology did not occur until the 18th century. The 19th century saw breakthroughs occur after observing networks developed across several countries...
and Oceanography
Oceanography
Oceanography , also called oceanology or marine science, is the branch of Earth science that studies the ocean...
- The Metoc system by BAE Systems comprises the Upper Air Sounding System using launchable radiosondeRadiosondeA radiosonde is a unit for use in weather balloons that measures various atmospheric parameters and transmits them to a fixed receiver. Radiosondes may operate at a radio frequency of 403 MHz or 1680 MHz and both types may be adjusted slightly higher or lower as required...
s by Skycom Telecom Ltd (Wales) and Graw Radiosondes (Germany) joint venture, as well as a comprehensive weather satellite receiving system and a bathymetrics system. These sensors will provide each vessel with a full environmental awareness for tasks such as radar propagation, ballisticsBallisticsBallistics is the science of mechanics that deals with the flight, behavior, and effects of projectiles, especially bullets, gravity bombs, rockets, or the like; the science or art of designing and accelerating projectiles so as to achieve a desired performance.A ballistic body is a body which is...
and general self-supporting meteorological and oceanographic data production.
Aircraft
- 1-2 Lynx HMA 8 helicopterWestland LynxThe Westland Lynx is a British multi-purpose military helicopter designed and built by Westland Helicopters at its factory in Yeovil. Originally intended as a utility craft for both civil and naval usage, military interest led to the development of both battlefield and naval variants...
- Sea SkuaSea SkuaThe Sea Skua is a British lightweight short-range air-to-surface missile designed for use from helicopters against ships. It is primarily used by the Royal Navy on the Westland Lynx helicopter, although Kuwait uses it in a shore battery and on their Umm Al Maradem fast attack craft.The British...
anti-ship missiles and Sting Ray torpedoSting Ray torpedoThe Sting Ray torpedo is a current British acoustic homing light-weight torpedo manufactured by GEC-Marconi, who were later bought out by BAE Systems. It entered service in 1983.-Design and development:...
es or 1 Merlin helicopterAgustaWestland EH101The AgustaWestland AW101 is a medium-lift helicopter for military applications but also marketed for civil use. The helicopter was developed as a joint venture between Westland Helicopters in the UK and Agusta in Italy...
- Sting Ray torpedoSting Ray torpedoThe Sting Ray torpedo is a current British acoustic homing light-weight torpedo manufactured by GEC-Marconi, who were later bought out by BAE Systems. It entered service in 1983.-Design and development:...
es, dipping sonarSonarSonar is a technique that uses sound propagation to navigate, communicate with or detect other vessels...
and sonobuoys. - The flight deck of the Type 45 is big enough to accommodate aircraft up to the size of the ChinookCH-47 ChinookThe Boeing CH-47 Chinook is an American twin-engine, tandem rotor heavy-lift helicopter. Its top speed of 170 knots is faster than contemporary utility and attack helicopters of the 1960s...
.
Other
- Type 45 has sufficient space to embark 60 Royal MarinesRoyal MarinesThe Corps of Her Majesty's Royal Marines, commonly just referred to as the Royal Marines , are the marine corps and amphibious infantry of the United Kingdom and, along with the Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary, form the Naval Service...
and their equipment.
Propulsion
The Type 45 is fitted with an innovative integrated electric propulsion system. Historically, electric-drive ships (like USS LangleyUSS Langley (CV-1)
USS Langley was the United States Navy's first aircraft carrier, converted in 1920 from the collier USS Jupiter , and also the U.S. Navy's first electrically propelled ship...
) have supplied power to their electric motors using DC
Direct current
Direct current is the unidirectional flow of electric charge. Direct current is produced by such sources as batteries, thermocouples, solar cells, and commutator-type electric machines of the dynamo type. Direct current may flow in a conductor such as a wire, but can also flow through...
, and ship's electrical load, where necessary at all, was either separately supplied or was supplied as DC with a large range of voltage. Integrated electric propulsion seeks to supply all propulsion and ship's electrical load via AC
Alternating current
In alternating current the movement of electric charge periodically reverses direction. In direct current , the flow of electric charge is only in one direction....
at a high quality of voltage and frequency. This is achieved by computerised control, high quality transformation and electrical filtering.
Two Rolls-Royce
Rolls-Royce plc
Rolls-Royce Group plc is a global power systems company headquartered in the City of Westminster, London, United Kingdom. It is the world’s second-largest maker of aircraft engines , and also has major businesses in the marine propulsion and energy sectors. Through its defence-related activities...
WR-21 gas turbine
Gas turbine
A gas turbine, also called a combustion turbine, is a type of internal combustion engine. It has an upstream rotating compressor coupled to a downstream turbine, and a combustion chamber in-between....
alternator
Alternator
An alternator is an electromechanical device that converts mechanical energy to electrical energy in the form of alternating current.Most alternators use a rotating magnetic field but linear alternators are occasionally used...
s and two Wärtsilä
Wärtsilä
Wärtsilä is a Finnish corporation which manufactures and services power sources and other equipment in the marine and energy markets. The core products of Wärtsilä include large combustion engines...
12V200 diesel generators provide electrical power at 4,160 volts to a high voltage system. The high voltage supply is then used to provide power to two Converteam
Converteam
Converteam was an electrical engineering company based in France, and a former division of Alstom. It is now part of General Electric-History:...
advanced induction motors with outputs of 20 MW each. Ship's services, including hotel load and weapons system power supplies are transformed down from the high voltage supply to 440 V or 115 V.
The benefits of integrated electric propulsion are cited as:
- The ability to place the electric motors closer to the propeller, thus shortening the shaftline, obviating the need for a gearbox or controllable pitch propellers, and reducing exposure to action damage.
- The opportunity to place prime movers (diesel generators and gas turbine alternators) at convenient locations away from the shaftline, thus reducing the space lost to funnels, while at the same time improving access for maintenance and engine changes.
- The freedom to run all propulsion and ship services from a single prime mover for much of the ship's life, thus dramatically reducing engine running hours and emissions.
Key to the efficient use of a single prime mover is the choice of a gas turbine that provides efficiency over a large load range; the WR21 gas turbine incorporates compressor intercooling
Charge air cooler
A charge air cooler is used to cool engine air after it has passed through a turbocharger, but before it enters the engine. The idea is to return the air to a lower temperature, for the optimum power for the combustion process within the engine.Charge air coolers range in size depending on the...
and exhaust heat recuperation
Energy recovery
Energy recovery includes any technique or method of minimizing the input of energy to an overall system by the exchange of energy from one sub-system of the overall system with another...
, making it significantly more efficient than previous marine gas turbines, especially at low and medium load.
The combination of greater efficiency and plenty of fuel storage give an endurance of 7000 nautical miles (12,964 km) at 18 knots (35.3 km/h). High power density, coupled with the hydrodynamic efficiency of a longer hull form, allows for sustained high speed; It has been reported that Daring reached her design speed of 29 knots (57 km/h) in 70 seconds and achieved a speed of 31.5 knots (62 km/h) in 120 seconds during sea-trials in August 2007.
Construction
The ships are built by BAE Systems Surface Ships, which was originally created as BVT Surface Fleet, by the merger of the surface shipbuilding arms of BAE Systems and VT Group. These two companies previously built the ships in collaboration. BAE's two GlasgowGlasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
shipyards and single Portsmouth
Portsmouth
Portsmouth is the second largest city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire on the south coast of England. Portsmouth is notable for being the United Kingdom's only island city; it is located mainly on Portsea Island...
shipyard are responsible for different "blocks". The largest and most complex blocks containing the operations and machinery spaces are being constructed at BAE's shipyards on the Clyde
River Clyde
The River Clyde is a major river in Scotland. It is the ninth longest river in the United Kingdom, and the third longest in Scotland. Flowing through the major city of Glasgow, it was an important river for shipbuilding and trade in the British Empire....
.
BAE's Govan
Govan
Govan is a district and former burgh now part of southwest City of Glasgow, Scotland. It is situated west of Glasgow city centre, on the south bank of the River Clyde, opposite the mouth of the River Kelvin and the district of Partick....
yard is responsible for Block A (stern to edge of helicopter hangar). The Scotstoun
Scotstoun
Scotstoun is a historic district of Glasgow, Scotland, west of Glasgow City Centre. It is bounded by Yoker and Knightswood to the west, Victoria Park, Broomhill and Whiteinch to the east, Jordanhill to the north and the River Clyde to the south...
yard builds Blocks B/C (a 2600 tonne section which contains the WR-21 gas turbines, starts with the helicopter hangar to the bridge section) and Block D (bridge section). BAE's Portsmouth shipyard is responsible for Blocks E/F (bridge to the bow) and the funnels and masts. For Ships 2-6, blocks A-D are assembled in the Ships Block and Outfit Hall of the Govan shipyard and taken fully outfitted to the Scotstoun berth. The masts and funnels are also fitted before launch.
HMNB Portsmouth
Her Majesty's Naval Base Portsmouth is one of three operating bases in the United Kingdom for the British Royal Navy...
and taken by barge
Barge
A barge is a flat-bottomed boat, built mainly for river and canal transport of heavy goods. Some barges are not self-propelled and need to be towed by tugboats or pushed by towboats...
to Scotstoun. This was the final block to be attached. At this point the hull was launched into the Clyde
River Clyde
The River Clyde is a major river in Scotland. It is the ninth longest river in the United Kingdom, and the third longest in Scotland. Flowing through the major city of Glasgow, it was an important river for shipbuilding and trade in the British Empire....
and towed to the Scotstoun Dry Dock where the masts and funnels were fitted (the masts are partially outfitted with equipment, for example the mast for the S1850M
S1850M
The S1850M is a long range radar for wide area search. The S1850M is produced by BAE Systems Integrated System Technologies and Thales. It is a modified version of the Thales Nederland SMART-L radar. The S1850M is advertised as being capable of fully automatic detection, track initiation and...
radar is sent from Portsmouth to Thales Nederland
Thales Nederland
Thales Nederland B.V. is a subsidiary of Thales Group involved primarily in naval defence systems...
to be fitted with radar equipment). Once this is complete the remaining equipment was fitted; radar arrays, bow-mounted sonar
Sonar
Sonar is a technique that uses sound propagation to navigate, communicate with or detect other vessels...
, propellers, missile equipment and 4.5-inch gun
4.5 inch (114 mm) Mark 8 naval gun
The 4.5 inch Mark 8 is a British naval gun system which currently equips the Royal Navy's frigates and some British destroyers and frigates sold to other countries.-Background:...
.
This modular construction arrangement was agreed in February 2002. However, when the original contract for three ships was signed in July 2000, BAE Systems Marine
BAE Systems Marine
BAE Systems Marine Ltd. was the shipbuilding subsidiary of BAE Systems, formed in 1999, which manufactured the full range of naval ships; nuclear submarines, frigates, destroyers, amphibious ships....
was to build the first and third ships, and Vosper Thornycroft (now VT) was to build the second.
Ships in the class
White paper
A white paper is an authoritative report or guide that helps solve a problem. White papers are used to educate readers and help people make decisions, and are often requested and used in politics, policy, business, and technical fields. In commercial use, the term has also come to refer to...
entitled Delivering Security in a Changing World: Future Capabilities
Delivering Security in a Changing World
The 2003 Defence White Paper, titled Delivering Security in a Changing World, set out the future structure of the British military, and was preceded by the 1998 Strategic Defence Review and the 2002 SDR New Chapter, which responded to the immediate challenges to security in the aftermath of the...
. It was reported in December 2006 that the last two could be cut. In July 2007 Ministry of Defence officials stated that they "still planned to build eight Type 45 destroyers" and that "the extra two ships were still included in planning assumptions". This plan was officially abandoned on 19 June 2008 when the Minister
Minister of State
Minister of State is a title borne by politicians or officials in certain countries governed under a parliamentary system. In some countries a "minister of state" is a junior minister, who is assigned to assist a specific cabinet minister...
for the Armed Forces, Bob Ainsworth
Bob Ainsworth
Robert William Ainsworth is a British Labour Party politician who has been the Member of Parliament for Coventry North East since 1992, and was the Secretary of State for Defence from 2009 to 2010...
, announced in Parliament
Parliament of England
The Parliament of England was the legislature of the Kingdom of England. In 1066, William of Normandy introduced a feudal system, by which he sought the advice of a council of tenants-in-chief and ecclesiastics before making laws...
that options for the seventh and eighth destroyers would not be taken up. The continual scaling back of the project, first from 12 to 8, and subsequently to 6 ships, has also been criticised for leaving the Royal Navy with insufficient ships to meet its requirements.
On 9 March 2007 The Independent
The Independent
The Independent is a British national morning newspaper published in London by Independent Print Limited, owned by Alexander Lebedev since 2010. It is nicknamed the Indy, while the Sunday edition, The Independent on Sunday, is the Sindy. Launched in 1986, it is one of the youngest UK national daily...
reported that Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...
was considering buying "two or three" Type 45s. On 7 September 2007 it was reported that Saudi Arabian officials have been invited to observe Darings sea trials.
| Name | Pennant number Pennant number In the modern Royal Navy, and other navies of Europe and the Commonwealth, ships are identified by pennant numbers... |
First steel cut* | Launched | Date of commission | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daring HMS Daring (D32) HMS Daring is the lead ship of the Type 45 or 'D' class of air defence destroyer in the Royal Navy and the seventh ship to hold that name.She was launched in 2006 on the Clyde and conducted contractor's sea trials during 2007 and 2008... |
D32 | 28 March 2003 | 1 February 2006 | 23 July 2009 | In service |
| Dauntless HMS Dauntless (D33) HMS Dauntless is the second ship of the Type 45 class of air defence destroyer built for the Royal Navy... |
D33 | 26 August 2004 | 23 January 2007 | 3 June 2010 | In service |
| Diamond HMS Diamond (D34) HMS Diamond is the third ship of the Type 45 or 'D' class of air defence destroyer built for the Royal Navy. She was launched in 2007, completed her contractor's sea trials in July 2010 and arrived at her base port on 22 September 2010... |
D34 | 25 February 2005 | 27 November 2007 | 6 May 2011 | In service |
| Dragon HMS Dragon (D35) HMS Dragon is the fourth ship of the Type 45 or 'D' class of air defence destroyers that has been built for the Royal Navy. She was launched in November 2008 and is currently conducting Stage 1 trials... |
D35 | 19 December 2005 | 17 November 2008 | Expected 2012 | Stage 1 trials |
| Defender HMS Defender (D36) HMS Defender is the fifth ship of the Type 45 or 'D' class of air defence destroyer built for the Royal Navy. Construction of Defender began in 2006, and she was launched in 2009... |
D36 | 31 July 2006 | 21 October 2009 | Expected 2013 | Stage 1 trials |
| Duncan HMS Duncan (D37) HMS Duncan is the sixth ship of the Type 45 or 'D' class of air defence destroyer planned to be built for the Royal Navy. Duncan is named after Adam Duncan, Viscount Duncan of Camperdown , who defeated the Dutch fleet at the Battle of Camperdown on 11 October 1797.-Construction:Duncans... |
D37 | 26 January 2007 | 11 October 2010 | Expected 2014 | Fitting out |
- The Type 45 is constructed in modules, so the keel is not "laid down" as in the past. The ceremonial start of the ships' construction is "cutting the first sheet" of steel.
Daring names
Three of the new ships revive names given to the previous Daring-class destroyersDaring class destroyer (1949)
The Daring class was a class of eleven destroyers built for the Royal Navy and Royal Australian Navy . Constructed after World War II, and entering service during the 1950s, eight ships were constructed for the RN, and three ships for the RAN. Two of the RN destroyers were subsequently sold to and...
in 1949: Daring, Diamond, and Defender. These three and Duncan were also D-class destroyers
C and D class destroyer
The C and D class was a group of 14 destroyers built for the Royal Navy in the early 1930s. As in previous years, it was originally intended to order a complete flotilla comprising eight destroyers—plus a flotilla leader as the ninth unit—in each year. However, only four ships—plus a leader—were...
in 1930, while Dauntless and Dragon were s of 1918.
, and were names used for small early destroyers between 1893 and 1911. was a protected cruiser
Protected cruiser
The protected cruiser is a type of naval cruiser of the late 19th century, so known because its armoured deck offered protection for vital machine spaces from shrapnel caused by exploding shells above...
in 1904, while was a in 1901 and a Type 14 frigate of 1957. All six names have a long history stretching back to earlier wooden warships.