Type 45 destroyer
Encyclopedia : T : TY : TYP : Type 45 destroyer
| Type 45 class destroyer | |
|---|---|
| |
| General Characteristics | |
| Type: | Guided Missile Destroyer/Cruiser |
| In Service: | 2009 |
| Complement: | 190 - 235 |
| Displacement: | 7,350 tonnes |
| Length: | 152.4 m |
| Beam: | 21.2 |
| Draught: | 5 m |
| Machinery: | 2 shafts CODLAG
2 Rolls Royce WR-21
|
| Speed: | 27+ knots (est, top speed classified) |
| Armament: | SAMPSON multi-function radar tracks airborne targets
S1850M 3D air search radar
48 Aster missiles; a mix of Aster 15 and Aster 30 2 Phalanx CIWS (Close-in weapons system) BAE Systems 114 mm (4.5 inch) Mk 8 Mod. 1 gun 2 x 30 mm guns |
| Aircraft: | 1 Lynx HMA 8 helicopter |
The United Kingdom's Type 45 Destroyer is the state-of-the art air defence destroyer programme of the Royal Navy. The first Type 45 Destroyer was launched on February 1st, 2006 and is expected to come into service in 2009. The ships are assembled by BAE Systems Naval Ships from "blocks" built by BAE and VT Group. When complete, the Type 45 will be one of the most advanced and powerful class of air defence warships in the world.
Background
Originally conceived under the multi-national 'Horizon' project, from which the UK withdrew, the Daring Class destroyers represent the largest escorts ever built for the RN, and second in size only to the Tiger class guided missile cruisers of the post-Second World War era.Six ships have been ordered and a total of eight are expected to enter service by 2014. The original planned purchase of twelve was reduced in the Ministry of Defence's Delivering Security in a Changing World: Future Capabilities review, published in July 2004. The Type 45 design utilises the Principal Anti-Air Missile System, PAAMS, a joint British/French/Italian design, which comprises the SAMPSON fire control and tracking radar, MBDA Aster 15 and 30 missile systems and the 48-cell SYLVER vertical missile launcher, giving the Type 45 both short-range and long-range anti-air capability. The PAAMS system is able to control and coordinate several missiles in the air at once, allowing several tracks to be intercepted, and the SYLVER missile launcher can be upgraded in the future to add more modern weapons if necessary (as they become available). It has been suggested that the SAMPSON radar is capable of tracking an object the size of a cricket ball travelling at 3 times the speed of sound.[link]
The Type 45 destroyers will replace the Type 42 Destroyers currently in service with the Royal Navy. The First two, Daring and Dauntless will enter service in 2009 and 2010 respectively. The Type 45 may also be fitted with cruise missiles if the need arises in the future, the French Navy is in the process of adapting the Storm Shadow cruise missile (already operated by the RAF) for firing from Sylver launchers — as fitted to the Type 45 class.
The UK had sought to procure the ships in collaboration with 7 other NATO nations under the NFR-90 project and then with France and Italy through the Horizon CNGF programme; however, differing national requirements, workshare arguments and delays led to the UK withdrawing from both programmes and starting its own national project.
Design
The Type 45 destroyers will be 152.4 m in length, with a beam of 21.2 m and a draught of 5.0 m. This makes them significantly larger than the Type 42 destroyers they replace, displacing 7350 tonnes compared to 5200 tonnes of the Type 42. The Type 45 destroyers are the first British warships built to meet the hull requirements of Lloyd's Register's Naval Rules.The Type 23 frigates were the first British warships to incorporate signature reduction technology, with the large 7° angle of the bow, the elimination of right angles and reduced equipment on deck. The propulsion system was also chosen to minimise noise, with electric generators providing minimal acoustic signature for anti-submarine warfare (ASW) missions. Infrared signature is reduced by cooling devices on the funnels.
The design of the Type 45 brings new levels of signature reduction to the Royal Navy. The equipment on the deck is reduced further, producing a very "clean" superstructure similar to the La Fayette class of frigates. There is reduced equipment located on the mast and all docking equipment and life rafts are concealed behind superstructure panels.
Construction
The ships are built by an alliance of BAE Systems Naval Ships and VT Group. Each of BAE's two Glasgow shipyards and VT at Portsmouth are responsible for different "blocks". The largest and most complex blocks containing the operations and machinery spaces are being constructed at BAE's Shipyards on the Clyde.
- BAE Systems Naval Ships (Govan)
- *Block A (stern to edge of helicopter hangar)
- BAE Systems Naval Ships (Scotstoun)
- *Blocks B/C (a 2600 tonne section which contains the WR-21 gas turbines, starts with the helicopter hangar to the bridge section)
- *Block D (bridge section)
- VT Group (Portsmouth)
- *Blocks E/F (bridge to the bow)
- *Funnels and masts
At this point the basic ship is launched into the Clyde and towed to the Scotstoun Dry Dock where the masts and funnels are fitted (the masts are partially outfitted with equipment, for example the mast for the S1850M radar is sent from Portsmouth to Thales Nederland to be fitted with radar equipment). Once this is complete the remaining equipment is fitted; radar arrays (SAMPSON and S1850), bulbous bow, propellers, missile equipment and 4.5 inch naval gun.
This construction arrangement was agreed in February 2002. However when the original contract for three ships was signed in July 2000, BAE was to build the first and third ships, and VT (then Vosper Thornycroft) was to build the second. As of June of 2006, construction and development of the Type 45 destroyer was 24 months late and £950 million over budget.[[Citing sources citation needed]]
HMS Daring was successfully launched on February 1st 2006, ready for fitting out. The event attracted considerable local attention and media coverage due to the relative rarity of a launch into the Clyde in the 2000s.
Armament
Anti aircraft
- SAMPSON multi-function radar tracks airborne targets.
- S1850M 3D air search radar
- 48 Aster missiles; a mix of Aster 15 and Aster 30
- 2 Phalanx CIWS (Close-in weapons system)
Decoys
- The sophisticated Seagnat decoy system allows for the seduction and distraction of radar guided weapons, through active and passive means. An infra-red 'spoofing' device is planned for future retrofits.
- Active torpedo decoy system.
Guns
- BAE Systems 114 mm (4.5 inch) Mk 8 Mod. 1 gun
- 2 x 30 mm guns
Aircraft
- 1 Lynx HMA 8 helicopter This will carry Sea Skua anti-ship missiles and Sting Ray torpedoes.
- The Merlin helicopter will not be carried at first; the PRISM deck handling device and other necessary systems have been deleted from the design as a cost-saving measure. This capability may be retro-fitted at a later date, or included in later units of the class.
- The flight deck of the Type 45 will be big enough to accommodate a Chinook.
Anti Ship Missiles
- Space for 8 AGM-84 Harpoon
Torpedoes
- Fitted 'for but not with' ship launched torpedo system.
Other
- MFS 7000 sonar
- The ships will have room to carry 60 Royal Marines and their equipment.
Propulsion
- Rolls-Royce/Northrop Grumman WR-21 Advanced gas turbine with ICR (Intercooler Recuperator.)
Ships in the class
The Type 45 class is also known as the "D class". The first six ships are to be called, Daring, Dauntless, Diamond, Dragon, Defender and Duncan. Two more may be ordered by the MoD.
| Name | Builder | Laid down | Launched | Commissioned |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daring (D32) | BAE Systems | 28th March 2003 | 1st Feb 2006 | 2009 |
| Dauntless (D33) | BAE Systems | 26th August 2004 | Spring 2007 | 2010 |
| Diamond (D34) | BAE Systems | 25th February 2005 | Summer 2007 | 2010 |
| Dragon (D35) | BAE Systems | 19th December 2005 | 2008 | 2011 |
| Defender (D36) | BAE Systems | 2006 | 2008 | 2012 |
| Duncan (D37) | BAE Systems | 2006 | 2009 | 2013 |
See also
External links
- http://www.type45.com
- http://www.royal-navy.mod.uk/static/pages/1973.html
- http://navy-matters.beedall.com/t45main.htm
- [The Telegraph coverage of the first launch]
- CMS for the Type 45 is to be based on Windows 2000 [link][link]
- http://eureferendum.blogspot.com/2006/02/retreat-from-defence.html Critical blog post on the Type 45 project
| Type 45 destroyer |
| Daring | Dauntless | Diamond | Dragon | Defender | Duncan |
| List of destroyers of the Royal Navy |
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