The Royal Navy’s two newest warships – formidable air defense destroyers HMS Daring and HMS Dauntless – have performed side-by-side at sea for the first time.
The Type 45 destroyers successfully completed a series of complex manoeuvres south of the Isle of Wight today (February 15).
The pair sailed at high speeds to simulate the defence of a high-value warship and also put their communications equipment to the test as a warm-up to intensive operational sea training later this year.
Captain Richard Powell, HMS Dauntless’ Commanding Officer, said: “Today marks a significant step forward in the development of the Type 45 class. Conducting joint trials in this way will further enhance the potent capability of the Type 45. It also marks an important step in the delivery of the 21st century Navy.”
“We have been able to build on the successes of HMS Daring over the last year and in HMS Dauntless we are delivering a warship that the Royal Navy and the nation will be really proud of.”
Commander in Chief Fleet, Admiral Sir Trevor Soar, who was embarked in HMS Dauntless witnessing the historic moment said: “I’m really positive about these ships. I have seen them from the very beginning, through the design and planning to the trials.”
“It is very much like watching the children growing up. They have been great kids and now they are growing up to be great adults.”
The Portsmouth-based ships will work together for two further days before going their separate ways and continuing their respective trials programmes.
HMS Daring was commissioned into the RN last July and is due to formally enter service later this year.
Meanwhile HMS Dauntless will be commissioned in June and is expected to enter operational service in 2011.
Background Information
- The Type 45 Destroyer is the largest and most powerful Air Defence Destroyer ever built for the Royal Navy. It will provide UK Defence with a world-class military capability.
- The prime role of the Type 45 Destroyer will be Air Defence: protecting UK national and allied/coalition forces against enemy aircraft and missiles.
- In addition to its word class Air Defence capability, one of the Type 45’s greatest assets is its versatility. The Type 45 will be able to act as a base platform for a deployable Headquarters, from which to Command operations. It is the only platform of its size in UK defence able to do this and will result is an improvement in our expeditionary capability.
- The Type 45 will be able to embark up to 60 troops (over and above its own complement) and their equipment, and support them with a modern medical facility that can deliver surgical capability. Type 45 also has a large flight deck that can accommodate Helicopters up to and including the size of a Chinook. The ship can also take up to 700 people if necessary to support a civilian evacuation from war zones or natural disasters.
- The Type 45 is not only a world class Anti-Air Warfare Destroyer. It will also act as a multi-role, general-purpose platform, able to contribute effectively to a range of world-wide maritime and joint operations.
