Type 45 destroyers update

A class of six Type 45 anti-air warfare destroyers is in production, with final assembly being carried out on the River Clyde.

Ship 1 – HMS Daring – Commissioned into the Royal Navy on 23rd July, following successful Sea Viper missile Trials. Like her sister ships, the base port is Portsmouth Naval base, which will be fully operational by February.

Ship 2 – HMS Dauntless – Has undergone two sets of sea trials and is now back on the Clyde for final work.

Ship 3 – HMS Diamond – Commenced sea trials in October.

Ship 4 – HMS Dragon – Was launched a year ago and is undergoing machinery trials on the Clyde prior to sea trials next summer.

Ship 5 – HMS Defender – Was launched a month ago and is 65% complete, about 3 weeks ahead of the schedule for that of HMS Dragon

Ship 6 – HMS Duncan – Blocks under construction, first block to move to berth in January.

Vital Statistics
Displacement: more than 7,000 tonnes
Length: 152.5m
Max Beam: 21.2m
Speed: 30 knots
Endurance/Range: 45 days/ 7,000 nautical miles at 18 knots
Complement: approx. 191 (with space for 235)

The hull structure is made from 2,800 tonnes of steel; approximately 40 tonnes of paint will be applied to and area of 100,000 square meters of steel.

The on board power plant can produce sufficient electricity to light a small-sized city

Type 45 has sufficient power to push her through the often unpredictable North Atlantic at a top speed in excess of 30mph, hail, rain or shine.

Combat system
A PAAMS sea Viper missile accelerates to a speed twice the speed of Concorde in less than 10 seconds.

The missile can reach speeds of Mach 4-5 in just two seconds and undertake in-flight manoeuvres three times more severe than a pilot can withstand, with a final interception manoeuvre 10 times more severe than a pilot can withstand.

Type 45 air defence system can hit a target the sixe of a cricket ball travelling three times the speed of sound.

Were a Type 45 to be moored on the Thames, it could detect a missile fired from beyond Land's End and identify it before it reached Portsmouth. And it could to that eight times simultaneously.

Accommodation
Type 45 sleeping arrangements consist of 110 bunk beds (220) beds, 26 sofa beds and 22 single beds.

Junior ratings occupy six-berth sleeping cabins and the majority of officers occupy single berth sleeping cabins.

Type 45 recreation facilities consist of 8 TVs, 3 bars and sofa style seating for 75% of the crew.

Type 45 laundry equipment is designed to process 2.82 tonnes of laundry per week.