World's Most Advanced Warship Departs River Clyde on Maiden Voyage

(Source: BAE Systems; issued July 18, 2007)

The most advanced warship in the world to date, HMS Daring, has departed from BAE Systems’ shipyard in Scotstoun on her maiden voyage down the River Clyde to begin sea trials off the west coast of Scotland.

Launched by HRH the Countess of Wessex in February 2006, HMS Daring is the first of six Daring class Type 45 destroyers being built for the Royal Navy. They will provide the British fleet and her allies with an unparalleled level of anti-air warfare capability through to the middle of the 21st century and will be the most capable warships of their type ever built.

She will be put through her paces by BAE Systems engineers and Royal Navy personnel, who will eventually form her permanent crew once she enters service in 2009.

BAE Systems Surface Fleet Solutions managing director Vic Emery said; “I am delighted that the Type 45 programme to date has been delivered on time, on budget and to the customer’s specification, underlining our commitment to supporting the operations of the UK Armed Forces.”

“HMS Daring's departure, bang on schedule, is yet another tribute to the outstanding performance of the Clyde workforce. It is a huge achievement by a team involving BAE Systems and Royal Navy personnel and another key milestone towards the entry into service of the world's most advanced warship.”

The Senior Naval Officer on board the ship, Commander David Shutts, said: “This is a great day for everybody who has been involved in the Type 45 Destroyer project.

“Both I and the rest of the Royal Naval ship’s company have been looking forward to this event for a long time. It’s not every day you take a First-of-Class warship to sea.”

Following her sea-trials, HMS Daring will return to the Clyde for on-going integration and testing, prior to hand-over to the customer by the end of 2008 and entering full service with the Royal Navy in 2009.

The Type 45 programme will provide the Royal Navy with a versatile destroyer capable of contributing to worldwide maritime and joint operations for much of the first half of this century. As well as providing a specialist air warfare capability, they will also afford the fleet a general-purpose multi-role platform capable of performing tasks from peace support and defence diplomacy through to high-intensity warfare.



HMS Daring, the first of the Royal Navy’s Type 45 destroyers, leaves the shipyard on her maiden voyage. (Royal Navy photo)

Navy's Latest Destroyer Takes to the High Seas

(Source: UK Ministry of Defence; issued July 19, 2007)

The first of the Royal Navy's latest Type 45 warships, Daring – the largest and most powerful air defence destroyer built in Britain – began an intensive period of sea trials yesterday, Wednesday 18 July 2007.


The 7,500 tonne vessel will remain under the control of her builders, BAE Systems Surface Ship Solutions, during this trials phase, which is expected to last for about four weeks.

During this period her builders will trial the ship's innovative all-electric propulsion system, and her manoeuvring and navigational systems to ensure the ship is seaworthy and safe to sail on the high seas.

Her main 4.5inch (11.4cm) calibre gun will also be fired using inert shells on the Benbecula range, not to test its accuracy, but to test the loads it places on the structure of the ship.

The Senior Naval Officer on board the ship, Commander Dave Shutts, said:

"This is a great day for everybody who has been involved in the Type 45 Destroyer project since its inception in 2000. It is the first time Daring has moved and steered under her own power.

"Both I and the rest of the Royal Naval ship's company – and the many contractors' staff on board - have been looking forward to this event for a long time. It's not every day you take a First-of-Class warship to sea."

Daring is the first all-electric ship in the fleet and uses two powerful Rolls Royce fuel-efficient gas turbines, backed with two diesel generators to produce 40 Megawatts of power. This is supplied to huge electric motors that can drive the ship at up to 29 knots.

The ship's hull and superstructure employs radical "stealth" shaping to reduce her radar echo in order to make her more difficult to attack.

Her combat system, which will be tested during exhaustive trials next year, is centred on the immensely sophisticated Principal Anti Air Missile System, which equips the ship to protect itself and other ships from attack by a range of advanced missiles.

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Navy's Newest Destroyer Breezes Through First Sea Trials

UK Ministry of Defence | Aug 17, 2007
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The Royal Navy's newest destroyer, the 7,500 tonne Daring, has successfully completed demanding sea trials off the Scottish coast.

Daring is the first of six Type 45 Destroyers which will be the largest and most powerful air defence ships ever built for the front line by the UK. Carrying world-leading missile defence systems, they will be able to engage a large number of targets simultaneously and defend aircraft carriers or groups of ships, such as an amphibious landing force, against the strongest future threats from the air.

These versatile ships will also provide an unprecedented detection and defensive capability along with vastly improved living standards compared to their predecessors. The success of these trials means Daring has moved one step closer to coming into operation.

Armed Forces Minister Bob Ainsworth visited Daring in the Firth of Clyde in Scotland today, Tuesday 14 August 2007, where he toured the ship and its facilities. The crew took the opportunity to demonstrate some of Daring's capabilities:

"Daring's success at sea is an excellent start to the intensive trials phase that will now begin as we bring her world-leading missile defence system into full operation," Mr Ainsworth said.

"I have spoken to her crew and they are delighted with the capability of the ship and pleased with the high standard of accommodation on board."

BAE Systems is the prime contractor for delivery of these destroyers with a contract worth over £6bn. There are another five ships of this class on order, one of which is Dauntless which was launched earlier this year and another, Diamond, which is due to be launched in November.

Once all of the Daring's trials have been successfully completed, she will officially be signed over to the Royal Navy at which point the name will gain the prefix of 'HMS'. The senior Royal Navy Officer on board Daring, Commander David Shutts has been at the helm throughout these recent successes:

"The ship has performed magnificently during our initial sea trials over the past few weeks. In addition to being incredibly stable, smooth and rapid, she is also extremely agile with a very tight turning circle indeed. Further, she can come to a halt from top speed in less than three hull lengths.

"Having also spoken to many experienced colleagues at BAE Systems, I think that we are all agreed that this is the best first of class initial sea trial that any of us has ever experienced. Clearly, this bodes very well for the future ships."

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Sgt_Schlappy,

Nice. Just don't know about the looks of these new naval ships though. All the angles do defeat radar and the like. What happened to the Coventray and Coontz classic lines.