UK Ministry of Defence,
Daring, the first of the Royal Navy's new Type 45 destroyers, entered and berthed in her home port of Portsmouth today for the first time, witnessed by hundreds of well-wishers.
The occasion marks a major milestone in the programme's development. The six Type 45 destroyers, of which Daring is the first of class, will form the backbone of the Royal Navy's air defence capability for the 21st Century.
It is also the first time in 30 years that a new class of destroyer has entered Portsmouth.
Speaking in Portsmouth today, Wednesday 28 January 2009, Minister for Defence Equipment and Support, Quentin Davies, said:
“Today is a special day for the Royal Navy, the city of Portsmouth and her dockyard, the crew of HMS Daring and all those involved in building her, as one of the most powerful warships in the world enters her home port for the first time. It is with great pride that I have been able to witness the first arrival of HMS Daring into Portsmouth today.”
Daring is one of the most advanced ships ever built and along with the five other Type 45s will be one of the essential pillars of the Royal Navy in the 21st Century.
Designed primarily to provide air defence protecting forces against enemy aircraft and missiles, Daring is extremely versatile and able to undertake a broad range of missions from combat to humanitarian assistance.
She can operate a number of helicopters, including the Chinook, providing greater operational flexibility than other ships of her size. She will also be able to carry a significant number of extra personnel, such as troops or evacuated personnel.
Top quality accommodation has been fitted so the crew can live and work in comfort. The ship also has her own hospital facilities, complete with operating table.
Vice Admiral Sir Trevor Soar KCB OBE, Chief of Materiel (Fleet), used the occasion to officially name the Type 45's air defence missile system as 'Sea Viper' – formerly known as the Principal Anti-Air Missile System (PAAMS). He said:
“With its Sampson Radar the system is capable of detecting and tracking several hundred targets including the supersonic, sea- skimming and high altitude targets out to 400 kilometres. It can then classify and decide how to best engage up to 10 of them simultaneously in order to ensure the highest possibility of a successful engagement.
“I have to say she is a superb looking ship. She is absolutely state-of-the-art: from the Sampson Radar and the PAAMS missile system, which provide a capability far beyond any other weapon system in the Royal Navy, right the way through to the power systems that have been designed to be as green and economical as possible.”
Speaking shortly before her arrival Daring's Commanding Officer, Captain Paul Bennett OBE, said:
“Today provides a fitting opportunity to mark the first entry into Portsmouth of a new class of destroyer for over 30 years. It's been a fantastic event to mark the passage of this great warship into her home port and we look forward to a successful year of sea trials before embarking on operations.”
Daring will undertake an intensive sea trials programme for the rest of the year, with a formal commissioning ceremony due to take place in the summer and a target of formally accepting her into naval service by late 2010.
Chief Executive Alan Johnston of BVT, who built Daring, said:
“It's a fantastic feeling to see HMS Daring enter her home port for the first time and BVT is immensely proud of its role in achieving this, in partnership with the Ministry of Defence and companies throughout UK industry. HMS Daring and the five further Type 45s that will follow will provide a unique capability to the UK Armed Forces for the next 30 years and beyond. At BVT we are looking forward to continuing to support both these ships and the Royal Navy every step of the way.”
Daring will be open to military and MOD visitors alongside Victory Jetty, Portsmouth, between 0930 and 1200 hrs on Friday 30 January. Industry representatives will be in attendance with displays of the technology within the Type 45. There is an opportunity to tour the ship and meet the ship's company. There is no requirement to book your visit; if you have a free slot in your diary, come and see the ship of the future today.
Daring was launched in February 2006 and completed her contractor sea trials in September 2008. She was handed over to the MOD from the shipbuilder BVT on 10 December 2008 and set sail from the Govan dockyard on the Clyde on 16 January 2009 for the journey down to Portsmouth.
Interesting Facts
– Daring is affiliated with both Birmingham and Guernsey.
– Two and a quarter million man hours have been spent fitting her out.
– The hull structure is made of 2,800 tonnes of steel which is more than the weight of the Blackpool Tower. Approximately 40 tonnes of paint will have to be applied to cover an area of 100,000 square metres of steel.
– The Sea Viper air defence missile is the size of a public telephone box, weighs almost as much as a small car, and from launch accelerates to a speed twice that of Concorde in under 10 seconds.
– Her 152-metre length is equivalent to more than 16 double-decker buses laid end-to-end and she is as high as an electricity pylon.
– Her onboard power plant can supply enough electricity to light a town of 80,000 people.
– Her fuel tanks have a volume equivalent to approximately half that of an olympic-sized swimming pool.
– She contains 220 beds, 26 sofa beds, 22 single beds and has her own hospital facilities complete with operating table. She is fitted with one bath, 44 showers, 54 toilets and 100 wash basins.
– She is fitted with enough carpet to cover nearly two five-a-side football pitches.
– She has 404 telephones (mainly internal) and is fitted with enough electrical cable to circle the M25 three times.
