Ministry of Defence
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Warship comes out of the workshop
HMS Daring, the first of the Royal Navy's new class of powerful Type 45 Destroyers, was today formally handed over to the MOD in a ceremony at the Scotstoun shipyard on the Clyde after completing a range of stringent trials and tests.
The 7,500 tonne ship is due to sail to her home port of Portsmouth in January 2009 to undertake several months of exhaustive trials and training before she is declared ready for operational service.
The construction of HMS Daring has involved thousands of people at shipyards on the Clyde and at Portsmouth, using factories and businesses across the UK.
Accepting the first-of-class from Prime Contractor, BVT Surface Fleet Ltd, MoD's DE&S Type 45 programme director, Dave Twitchin said:
"The Acceptance-off-Contract today of HMS Daring is by far the most exciting and formative milestone of the year. It is the culmination of an incredible amount of hard work by all those who have been involved in the programme, particularly in the past 2 years. HMS Daring has proved herself to be a highly capable ship and has delivered on all of her promises and more. The final phase of her sea trials under MOD control will test her even further.
"I have no doubt that she will come through with flying colours, and will become the hallmark of the modern Royal Navy and will go on to provide great service for many years to come".
Since being launched by the Countess of Wessex in 2006, HMS Daring has been fitted with the world-beating Principal Anti-Air Missile System (PAAMS), designed to deal with multiple attacks by anti-ship missiles, and her Long Range and Multi Function radars.
The ship is extremely versatile and a number of helicopters, including the Chinook, will be able to operate from her deck. HMS Daring will be capable of undertaking a wide range of missions from combat to humanitarian and will be able to carry a significant number of extra people such as troops or evacuated personnel on board.
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.
The ship is powered by the WR21 Gas Turbine enabling her to reach speeds of up to 29 knots. She has already successfully completed an extensive programme of rigorous sea trials demonstrating her capability as a world class air defence Destroyer.
As part of the ceremony, HMS Daring's Commanding Officer, Captain Paul Bennett OBE Royal Navy, raised the White Ensign as the Ship's company marched on board.
Captain Bennett said:
"Anyone who has sailed on HMS Daring will tell you that she is a truly magnificent ship.
"The Type 45 is an incredibly complex warship using cutting edge technology throughout; around 80% of the equipments used are new to service. It will provide a positive step-change in the UK's air defence capability and will be vital part of the Royal Navy's future armoury." HMS Daring will leave her home on the Clyde with a fully trained crew, arriving into Portsmouth for the first time in January 2009.
ENDS
Notes to Editors
1. For further information or pictures, please contact Sonia Marshall at the Ministry of Defence press office on 0207 218 2957
Milestones for the Type 45 programme this year (2008) include:
1. In March the Steel was cut on the sixth and final ship HMS Duncan;
2. In June, the first test firing of the PAAMS missile system successfully took place;
3. In November the fourth ship HMS Dragon was launched on the Clyde;
4. The second ship - HMS Dauntless - is currently at sea undergoing her firsts set of sea trials - her performance is promising to exceed that of her sister ship HMS Daring;
5. Prior to the Acceptance off Contract for HMS Daring, The Countess of Wessex toured the ship and was presented with a ceremonial key to the ship. She also presented a long service and good conduct medal to PO Neil Hudson, from Portsmouth.
Other milestones in the Type 45 programme planned for 2009 are:
6. HMS Daring's formal Commissioning is planned for summer 2009;
7. Further sea trials for HMS Dauntless;
8. Inaugural sea trials for the third Type 45, HMS Diamond;
9. Final test firings of PAAMS;
10. Launch of the fifth Type 45, HMS Defender.
Interesting facts:
* HMS Daring is affiliated with Birmingham and Guernsey.
* Two and a quarter million man hours have been spent fitting out HMS Daring.
* The hull structure is made of 2800 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 meters of steel.
* PAAMS air defence missiles is the size of a public phone box, weigh two thirds as much as a small car and from launch accelerate to a speed twice that of Concorde in under 10 seconds. The missile's flight manoeuvres as it closes in on a target are 10 times more severe than a human could withstand.
* Her 152m length is equivalent to more than 16 double decker buses 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 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 1 bath, 44 showers, 54 toilets and 100 wash basins.
* She is fitted with enough carpet to cover nearly two 5 A-side football pitches.
* She has 404 phones (mainly internal) and is fitted with enough electrical cable to circle the M25 three times.
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