Hi, The final improved batch of type 42's such as HMS York, are the only ones worthy of consideration. The type 42 was out of date and not a very capable warship when new! Thanks to cost cutting and political interference. They were reduced in length by 40 feet to save money, and close in weapons were deleted.
They are now well out of date, and pretty much ineffectual as a destroyer. They are also incredibly thursty thanks to it's gas on gas propulsion system.
In combat, two were sunk! one due to poor fire fighting arrangements. The other Coventry, was unable to bring her weapons to bear, and had poor self defence equipment. they type 22 or 23 is a better option.
Yep two were sunk but Seadart perfomed within its design and did quite well. Seawolf noted some problems in it use that had not been anticpated but appeared when used in anger in a multiple target situation. Depending on which source you belive Sea Dart claimed 8 kills (one apparently friendly fire) while seawolf had 5 with one source suggesting 3 more probables. If you belive max hastings the 'claimed' kills were:
Harrier - 31
Sea Dart - 8
Sea wolf -5
Sea Cat - 6 and (if you beleive it)
Rapier -9
(30 captured or destroyed on the ground)
Coventry had shot down three aircraft immeidately before here loss. She was lost due to a combination of problems. The argentinians attched from behind Pebble island and low level (with considerable courage) limiting reaction time (this may also have saved
Broadsword as the bomb that hit her did not go off) The Sea Wolf on
Broadsword was unable to distingish between targets at similar ranges and failed to engage. The
Broadswords A arcs were then blocked as Coventry attemted to make itself a small target.
No arguement that a lack of a CIWS was a significant short coming but
Sheffield was lost due to a number of factors coming togther with more to do with reserve power than "poor fire fighting".
There were a lot of lessons learnt out of the Falklands and the RN was not as well equipped as they really should ahve been for this task due to funding cuts up until the event, however, I think your comments are spurious, not based on fact and provide no meaning contribution to the debate, particularly your last paragraph.