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|Built range=
|Built range=
|Total ships building=1
|Total ships building=1
|Total ships planned=6{{#tag:ref|Six hulls were originally ordered, with a planning assumption that a further six would be ordered between 2005 and 2010.<ref name=HC1229/> This planning assumption was later reduced to a further two. In the 2008 defence budget the [[Global Combat Ship]] programme (known then as the FSC) was brought forward at the expense of ships 7 and 8, resulting in the final order being left at six, with options for further ships not being taken up.<ref name=HC850-I/>|group=N}}
|Total ships planned=12{{#tag:ref|Six hulls were originally ordered, with a planning assumption that a further six would be ordered between 2005 and 2010.<ref name=HC1229/> This planning assumption was later reduced to a further two. In the 2008 defence budget the [[Global Combat Ship]] programme (known then as the FSC) was brought forward at the expense of ships 7 and 8, resulting in the final order being left at six, with options for further ships not being taken up.<ref name=HC850-I/>|group=N}}
|Total ships completed=5<!--Daring, Dauntless, Diamond in service; Dragon, Defender on trials-->
|Total ships completed=5<!--Daring, Dauntless, Diamond in service; Dragon, Defender on trials-->
|Total ships cancelled=0
|Total ships cancelled=6
|Total ships active=4
|Total ships active=4
}}
}}

Revision as of 23:19, 5 June 2012

HMS Daring in 2010
HMS Daring departing Portsmouth Naval Base, 1 March 2010.
Class overview
BuildersBAE Systems Surface Ships
Operators Royal Navy
Preceded byType 42
Planned12[N 1]
Building1
Completed5
Cancelled6
Active4
General characteristics
TypeGuided missile destroyer
Displacement

8,000 tonnes, standard[3]

Length152.4 m (500 ft 0 in)
Beam21.2 m (69 ft 7 in)
Draught7.4 m (24 ft 3 in)
Propulsionlist error: mixed text and list (help)

2 shafts Integrated electric propulsion (IEP);

SpeedIn excess of 29 kn (54 km/h; 33 mph)[23]
Range7,000 nautical miles (13,000 km) at 18 kn (33 km/h)
Complement190 (accommodation for up to 235)
Sensors and
processing systems
list error: <br /> list (help)
Electronic warfare
& decoys
list error: mixed text and list (help)
Armament
Aircraft carriedlist error: <br /> list (help)

1-2× Lynx HMA8, armed with;

  • Sea Skua anti ship missiles, or
  • 2× anti submarine torpedoes

or
Westland Merlin HM1,[5] armed with;

  • 4× anti submarine torpedoes
Aviation facilitieslist error: mixed text and list (help)
  • Large flight deck
  • Enclosed hangar

The Type 45 destroyer also known as the D or Daring class is a class of air defence destroyers built for the United Kingdom's Royal Navy. The Daring class were built to replace the Type 42 destroyers, the last of which is due to be decommissioned by 2013. The first ship in the Daring class, HMS Daring, was launched on 1 February 2006 and commissioned on 23 July 2009.[24] The ships are now built by BAE Systems Surface Ships. The first three ships were assembled by BAE Systems Surface Fleet Solutions from partially prefabricated "blocks" built at different ship yards.

The UK originally sought to procure air defence ships as part of the eight-nation NFR-90 project and later the Horizon Common New Generation Frigate programme with France and Italy. The Type 45s take advantage of some Horizon development work and utilise the Sea Viper missile system (the SAMPSON radar variant of the Principal Anti-Air Missile System). In 2009, delivery of the ships' Aster missiles was delayed due to a failure during testing.[25] A subsequent investigation revealed a manufacturing fault with a single batch of missiles and delivery of the Aster 30 is back on schedule.[26]

In an "intensive attack" a single Type 45 could simultaneously track, engage and destroy more targets than five Type 42 destroyers operating together.[27] The Daring class are the largest escorts ever built for the Royal Navy in terms of displacement.[N 2] After Daring's launch on 1 February 2006 former First Sea Lord, Admiral Sir Alan West stated that it would be the Royal Navy's most capable destroyer ever, as well as the world's best air-defence ship.[28] The reduction in the number to be procured from 12 eventually down to six (in 2008) was controversial.[29][30]

Design

Background

The UK had sought to procure the ships in collaboration with seven other NATO nations under the NFR-90 project which later collapsed. The UK then joined France and Italy in the Horizon CNGF programme; however, differing national requirements, workshare arguments and delays led to the UK withdrawing on 26 April 1999 and starting its own national project.[31] On 23 November 1999 Marconi Electronic Systems or MES was confirmed as prime contractor for the Type 45 project.[32] Seven days later MES and British Aerospace merged to form BAE Systems, making the latter the prime contractor.

The Type 45 project has been criticised for rising costs and delays, with the ships costing £6.46 billion, an increase of £1.5 billion (29%) on the original budget.[33] The first ship entered service in 2010,[34] rather than 2007 as initially planned. In 2007 the Defence Select Committee expressed its disappointment that the MoD and BAE had failed to control rising costs.[35][36]

General characteristics

The Type 45 destroyers are 152.4 m in length, with a beam of 21.2 m and a draught of 7.4 m. This makes them significantly larger than the Type 42 they replace, displacing about 8,000 tonnes[3] compared to 5,200 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. BAE Systems is the Design Authority for the Type 45, a role traditionally held by the UK Ministry of Defence.[37]

Stealth features

The design of the Type 45 brings new levels of radar signature reduction to the Royal Navy. Deck equipment and life rafts are concealed behind the ship's superstructure panels, producing a very "clean" superstructure somewhat similar to the French La Fayette class frigates. The mast is also sparingly equipped externally.

Advanced air defence

The Type 45 design uses the Principal Anti-Air Missile System, now known in Royal Navy service as Sea Viper. It is a joint British, French and Italian design. PAAMS consists of a SAMPSON fire control and tracking radar, MBDA Aster 15 and 30 missile systems and a 48-cell SYLVER vertical missile launcher, giving 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. The SYLVER VLS missile launcher can be upgraded to accommodate other weapons if necessary. The Daring class have often been considered to be the most powerful air-defence warships in the world.[38] It has been suggested that the SAMPSON radar is capable of tracking an object the size of a cricket ball travelling at three times the speed of sound.[39] Admiral Sir Mark Stanhope has talked of the RN's pride in a Type 45 being asked to switch off PAAMS because it was "constraining the training" in exercises with US forces.[40]

Although the Type 45 represents a significant improvement to air defences, her anti-ship capability is currently limited to the single medium calibre gun and helicopter-borne Sea Skua missiles.[41]

Armament and sensors

Daring embarking on sea trials in 2007
Anti-air

Sea Viper missile system.

Guns
Anti-ship
Anti-submarine
Land attack
  • The Type 45 as it stands has no land-attack missile capability and the SYLVER A50 launcher currently has no capability to fire such a missile. However, should the need arise, it would be possible to fit them with the American Mk. 41 VLS, firing the BGM-109 Tomahawk.[47] The Fire Shadow loitering munition is "compatible with the space envelope" of the Type 45's SYLVER cells[48] but does not appear to be under development for naval use at present.
  • The 4.5 inch Mark 8 naval gun has a naval gunfire support (NGS) role.
Daring being floated on the Clyde after launching.
Countermeasures
  • The 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.
  • Airborne Systems's IDS300 floating naval decoy system (corner reflectors) [49]
  • Surface Ship Torpedo Defence System (SSTD) active torpedo decoy system
Communications
  • Fully Integrated Communications System (FICS45) - a combined external and internal communications system supplied by Thales and SELEX Communications Ltd.[50]
METOC Meteorology and Oceanography
  • The Metoc system by BAE Systems comprises the Upper Air Sounding System using launchable radiosondes by Eurodefence Systems Ltd and Graw Radiosondes (Germany) joint venture, as well as a comprehensive weather satellite receiving system and a bathymetrics system. These sensors will provide each vessel with a full environmental awareness for tasks such as radar propagation, ballistics and general self-supporting meteorological and oceanographic data production.
Aircraft
Other
  • Type 45 has sufficient space to embark 60 Royal Marines and their equipment.

Propulsion

Integrated electric propulsion in the Type 45
(GT: gas turbine; DG: diesel generator)

The Type 45 is fitted with an innovative integrated electric propulsion system. Historically, electric-drive ships (like USS Langley) have supplied power to their electric motors using DC, and ship's electrical load, where necessary at all, was either separately supplied or was supplied as DC with a large range of voltage[clarification needed]. Integrated electric propulsion seeks to supply all propulsion and ship's electrical load via AC at a high quality[clarification needed] of voltage and frequency. This is achieved by computerised control, high quality transformation and electrical filtering.

Two Rolls-Royce WR-21 gas turbine alternators and two Wärtsilä 12V200 diesel generators provide electrical power at 4,160 volts to a high voltage system. The high voltage supply is then used to provide power to two Converteam advanced induction motors with outputs of 20 MW (27,000 hp) each. Ship's services, including hotel load and weapons system power supplies, are supplied via transformers from the high voltage supply at 440 V and 115 V.[48]

The benefits of integrated electric propulsion are cited as:

  • The ability to place the electric motors closer to the propeller, thus shortening the shaftline, obviating the need for a gearbox or controllable pitch propellers, and reducing exposure to action damage.[48]
  • The opportunity to place prime movers (diesel generators and gas turbine alternators) at convenient locations away from the shaftline, thus reducing the space lost to funnels, while at the same time improving access for maintenance and engine changes.[51]
  • The freedom to run all propulsion and ship services from a single prime mover for much of the ship's life, thus dramatically reducing engine running hours and emissions.[48]

Key to the efficient use of a single prime mover is the choice of a gas turbine that provides efficiency over a large load range; the WR21 gas turbine incorporates compressor intercooling and exhaust heat recovery, making it significantly more efficient than previous marine gas turbines, especially at low and medium load.

The combination of greater efficiency and high fuel capacity give an endurance of 7,000 nautical miles (13,000 km) at 18 knots (33 km/h).[48] High power density and the hydrodynamic efficiency of a longer hull form allow high speeds to be sustained. It has been reported that Daring reached her design speed of 29 knots (54 km/h) in 70 seconds and achieved a speed of 31.5 knots (58 km/h) in 120 seconds during sea-trials in August 2007.[23]

Construction

Launch of Daring. The ship's funnels, masts and radars were subsequently fitted in dry dock.

The ships are built by BAE Systems Surface Ships, originally created as BVT Surface Fleet by the merger of the surface shipbuilding arms of BAE Systems and VT Group. These two companies previously built the ships in collaboration. BAE's two Glasgow shipyards and single Portsmouth shipyard are responsible for different "blocks".

BAE's Govan yard is responsible for Block A (stern to edge of helicopter hangar). The Scotstoun yard builds Blocks B/C (a 2600 tonne section which contains the WR-21 gas turbines, starts with the helicopter hangar to the bridge section) and Block D (bridge section). BAE's Portsmouth shipyard is responsible for Blocks E/F (bridge to the bow) and the funnels and masts. For ships 2 to 6 blocks A-D are assembled in the Ships Block and Outfit Hall of the Govan shipyard, and taken fully outfitted to the Scotstoun berth. The masts and funnels are also fitted before launch.

Construction of blocks of Dauntless at Portsmouth

For the first-of-class, Block A was assembled at Govan and moved to Scotstoun where it was mated to Block B/C, which was already fitted with the WR-21 turbines and machinery. Block D, also assembled at Scotstoun, was fitted to these three blocks. The bow sections (E/F) were mated at Portsmouth and taken by barge to Scotstoun. These were the final blocks to be attached. At this point the hull was launched into the Clyde and towed to the Scotstoun Dry Dock where the masts and funnels were 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, bow-mounted sonar, propellers, missile equipment and 4.5-inch gun.

This modular construction arrangement was agreed in February 2002. However, when the original contract for three ships was signed in July 2000, BAE Systems Marine was to build the first and third ships, and Vosper Thornycroft (now VT) was to build the second.

Ships in the class

Diamond and Dauntless in HMNB Portsmouth. The BAE Systems/QinetiQ facility at Portsdown Hill can be seen in the distant background, with its replica of the Type 45's two radar masts.

Six ships have been ordered, and transfer of custody of the first happened on 10 December 2008.[52] The MOD's initial planning assumption was to procure twelve ships (essentially a like-for-like replacement of a similar number of Type 42s), with the size of the second batch to be determined between 2005 and 2010.[1] However this was reduced to eight ships in the 2003 defence white paper entitled Delivering Security in a Changing World: Future Capabilities. It was reported in December 2006 that the last two could be cut.[53] In July 2007 Ministry of Defence officials stated that they "still planned to build eight Type 45 destroyers" and that "the extra two ships were still included in planning assumptions".[54] This plan was officially abandoned on 19 June 2008 when the Minister for the Armed Forces, Bob Ainsworth, announced in Parliament that options for the seventh and eighth destroyers would not be taken up.[2][55] The continual scaling back of the project, first from 12 to 8, and subsequently to 6 ships, has been criticised for leaving the Royal Navy with insufficient ships to meet its requirements.[29][30]

On 9 March 2007 The Independent reported that Saudi Arabia was considering buying "two or three" Type 45s.[56] On 7 September 2007 it was reported that Saudi Arabian officials had been invited to observe Daring's sea trials.[57]

Name Pennant number First steel cut[N 3] Launched Date of commission Current status
Daring D32 28 March 2003 1 February 2006 23 July 2009[58] In Persian Gulf as of February 2012[59]
Dauntless D33 26 August 2004 23 January 2007 3 June 2010[60] Deploying to the Falklands[61]
Diamond D34 25 February 2005 27 November 2007 6 May 2011[62] In active service as of February 2012[63]
Dragon D35 19 December 2005 17 November 2008 20 April 2012[64] Operational training
Defender D36 31 July 2006 21 October 2009 Expected 2013[65] Stage 1 trials[66]
Duncan D37 26 January 2007 11 October 2010 Expected 2014[43] Fitting out

See also

Footnotes

Notes
  1. ^ Six hulls were originally ordered, with a planning assumption that a further six would be ordered between 2005 and 2010.[1] This planning assumption was later reduced to a further two. In the 2008 defence budget the Global Combat Ship programme (known then as the FSC) was brought forward at the expense of ships 7 and 8, resulting in the final order being left at six, with options for further ships not being taken up.[2]
  2. ^ Largest in terms of displacement; however the County-class destroyers were some 6 metres longer, and the Type 82 destroyer was 2 metres longer.
  3. ^ The Type 45 is constructed in modules, so the keel is not "laid down" as in the past. The ceremonial start of the ships' construction is "cutting the first sheet" of steel.

Citations

  1. ^ a b "Appendix - Warship Building Strategies", Major Procurement Projects: Government Response, House of Commons Defence Committee, 24 October 2002, ISBN 978-0-21-500586-1, HC 1229, retrieved 29 May 2010, The MoD intends to make a decision on the size of the next batch of Type-45s in the second half of the decade. Until the main investment decision on the next batch is made, the size of that batch will remain a planning assumption. {{citation}}: External link in |chapterurl= (help); Unknown parameter |chapterurl= ignored (|chapter-url= suggested) (help)
  2. ^ a b Ministry of Defence Annual Report and Accounts Volume I including the Annual Performance Report and Consolidated Departmental Resource Accounts (PDF). Ministry of Defence (Report). HM Government. 21 July 2008. p. 98. ISBN 978-0-10-295509-5. HC 850-I. Retrieved 26 July 2011. Six of these highly advanced and capable ships have been ordered, but following the 2008 planning round we no longer intend to place orders for any further Type 45 destroyers.
  3. ^ a b "Type 45 Destroyer". Royal Navy. Retrieved 6 November 2011.
  4. ^ "HMS Daring". Wärtsilä. Retrieved 1 August 2011.
  5. ^ "Air Defence Destroyer (T45)". Royal Navy. Retrieved 20 November 2007.[dead link]
  6. ^ "Raytheon Press Release" (PDF). 8 March 2006. Retrieved 31 January 2008.
  7. ^ "Jane's Electro-Optic Systems". 28 October 2010. Retrieved 21 August 2011.
  8. ^ "Type 45 Ballistic Missile Defence upgrade to support more than 100 UK jobs". UK Government. 24 May 2022. Retrieved 24 November 2022.
  9. ^ "HMS Defender destroys drone in exercise which paves the way for future of air defence at sea". royalnavy.mod.uk. 2 June 2023. Retrieved 4 June 2023.
  10. ^ "Snapshot: The Royal Navy escort fleet in April 2024". Navy Lookout. 20 April 2024. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
  11. ^ "£500m firepower upgrade for Type 45 destroyers". GOV.UK. Retrieved 24 November 2022.
  12. ^ "Royal Navy's Type 45 destroyers – reaching their full potential with addition of Sea Ceptor missiles". Navy Lookout. 6 July 2021. Retrieved 24 November 2022.
  13. ^ Scott, Richard (19 December 2023). "First NSM fit on RN Type 23 frigate". Janes. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
  14. ^ "Contenders for the Royal Navy's interim anti-ship missile requirement". navylookout.com. 26 August 2021. Retrieved 20 February 2022.
  15. ^ @NavyLookout (17 March 2023). "@HMSDuncan sails from Portsmouth this afternoon. Has been re-equipped with Harpoon missiles - the first Type 45 to carry SSM for several years" (Tweet). Retrieved 18 March 2023 – via Twitter.
  16. ^ "Can the UK supply anti-ship missiles to Ukraine?". 10 April 2022.
  17. ^ Scott, Richard (16 February 2022). "UK confirms cancellation of I-SSGW programme". Janes Information Services. Retrieved 20 February 2022.
  18. ^ "Snapshot: The Royal Navy escort fleet in April 2024". Navy Lookout. 20 April 2024. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
  19. ^ "Royal Navy to buy the Naval Strike Missile". Navy Lookout. 23 November 2022. Retrieved 25 November 2022.
  20. ^ "Royal Navy ships to be fitted with advanced new missile system". gov.uk. 23 November 2022. Retrieved 25 November 2022.
  21. ^ "The all-rounder – the 30mm Automated Small Calibre Gun in focus". Navy Lookout. 13 January 2021. Retrieved 29 March 2023.
  22. ^ "In focus: the 50 cal heavy machine gun in Royal Navy service". Navy Lookout. 5 May 2023. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  23. ^ a b MacDermid, Alan (15 August 2007). "Daring is mean, green and built for speed". The Herald. Retrieved 15 August 2007.
  24. ^ "UK Royal Navy Commissions Type 45 Destroyer HMS Daring". defpro. 24 July 2009. Retrieved 25 July 2009.
  25. ^ "Royal Navy destroyers at sea with faulty weapons systems (2009-12-09)". Portsmouth.co.uk. 7 December 2009. Retrieved 6 November 2011.
  26. ^ "MBDA Completes Four Successful Aster Missile Firings in less than a Month". http://www.mbda-systems.com. Retrieved 18 May 2011. {{cite web}}: External link in |publisher= (help)[dead link]
  27. ^ "Providing Anti Air Warfare Capability: the Type 45 destroyer". National Audit Office (United Kingdom). 13 March 2009. Retrieved 16 November 2009.
  28. ^ Nicoll, Alexander (1 February 2006). "Countess of Wessex Launches Royal Navy's New Warship". Government News Network. Retrieved 17 August 2007.
  29. ^ a b "Six of the best but scrap the rest". Shipping Times. 20 June 2008. Retrieved 16 November 2009.
  30. ^ a b See statement by then First Sea Lord Admiral Sir Alan West, Jane's Defence Weekly 25 June 2008, p.6 reproduced from an interview in February 2006.
  31. ^ Nicoll, Alexander (27 April 1999). "National differences scupper frigate project". Financial Times. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  32. ^ Sinclair, Keith (24 November 1999). "Jobs boost for shipyard; Yarrow confirmed as main contractor for MoD's Type 45 destroyer programme". The Herald. Scottish Media Newspapers. p. 13. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  33. ^ Public Accounts Committee (1 June 2009). "Ministry of Defence: Type 45 Destroyer" (Document). House of Commons. HC 372. {{cite document}}: Unknown parameter |accessdate= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |url= ignored (help)
  34. ^ "Air Defence Destroyer (Type 45)". Royal Navy website. Retrieved 14 October 2008.
  35. ^ David Robertson (29 January 2008). "Taxpayers face £500m bill for BAE projects". The Times. Retrieved 31 January 2008.
  36. ^ Graeme Wilson (9 December 2007). "MPs accuse MoD of £2.6bn overspend". Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 31 January 2008.
  37. ^ P J Gates, Royal Institution of Naval Architects, 2005, p35.
  38. ^ "World's most advanced destroyer launched tomorrow". The Times. Times Newspapers. 22 January 2007. p. 37. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  39. ^ Harding, Thomas (3 February 2006). "New warship is 'quantum leap forward' for the Navy". Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 10 March 2007.
  40. ^ Muradian, Vago; Cavas, Christopher P. (17 October 2011). "Adm. Sir Mark Stanhope Britain's First Sea Lord". Defense News. Retrieved 6 November 2011.
  41. ^ Lewis Page (27 November 2007). "New BAE destroyer launches today on the Clyde". The Register. Retrieved 21 April 2008.
  42. ^ "Royal Navy Prepares to Roll out the Big Guns". Royal Navy. 28 August 2008. Archived from the original on 9 August 2009.
  43. ^ a b "Commons Hansard Written Answers". UK Parliament. 5 September 2011. Retrieved 6 November 2011.
  44. ^ "HMS Daring's Warfare Department". Royal Navy website. Retrieved 8 June 2010. [dead link]
  45. ^ "The Best of the UK". Navy News. January 2011. p. 9. Retrieved 26 January 2011. Daring is currently undergoing a mini overhaul which among other upgrades will see her fitted with Phalanx automated guns
  46. ^ "Navy-Matters Type 45 Destroyer ''Daring'' Class". Navy-matters.beedall.com. Retrieved 6 November 2011.
  47. ^ Department of the Official Report (Hansard), House of Commons, Westminster (9 March 2004). "House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 9 Mar 2004 (pt 8)". Publications.parliament.uk. Retrieved 6 November 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  48. ^ a b c d e "TYPE 45 - The Anti-Air Warfare Destroyer" (PDF). Royal Navy. Retrieved 8 June 2010.[dead link]
  49. ^ "Naval Decoy IDS300, Ship Deployed Floating Naval Countermeasure". Airborne Systems. Retrieved 16 July 2011.
  50. ^ Type 45 FICS Fully Integrated Communications System[dead link]
  51. ^ Chitale, Captain S S (2010). "Integrated Full Electric Propulsion" (PDF). IE(I) Journal. 90. The Institution of Engineers (India): 18–22.
  52. ^ "HMS Daring at the Royal Navy website". Royal Navy. 19 July 2008.
  53. ^ Harrison, Michael (31 December 2006). "Half of Royal Navy's ships in mothballs as defence cuts bite". The Times. Retrieved 19 April 2007. [dead link]
  54. ^ Evans, Michael (26 July 2007). "Go-ahead for £4bn aircraft carriers". The Times. Retrieved 26 July 2007.
  55. ^ Kula, Adam (19 June 2008). "Government admits destroyers will never be built". Portsmouth News. Archived from the original on 27 June 2008. Retrieved 19 June 2008.
  56. ^ Harrison, Michael (9 March 2007). "UK seeks £2bn Saudi destroyer contract". The Independent. Retrieved 9 March 2007.
  57. ^ Robertson, David (7 September 2007). "BAE poised to clinch £20bn Saudi Eurofighter deal". The Times. Times Newspapers. Retrieved 8 September 2007.
  58. ^ "First port of call for destroyer". BBC. 22 May 2009. Retrieved 30 May 2009.
  59. ^ "HMS Daring to head for the Gulf". Press Association. 6 January 2012. Retrieved 31 January 2012.
  60. ^ The Shields Gazette HMS Dauntless set for Tyne visit
  61. ^ "HMS Dauntless destroyer deployed to Falklands by navy". The Guardian. 31 January 2012. Retrieved 31 January 2012.
  62. ^ "HMS Diamond to join fleet". The News. 4 May 2011. Retrieved 6 May 2011.
  63. ^ "HMS Diamond enters service". Ministry of Defence. 12 July 2011. Retrieved 12 July 2011.
  64. ^ "HMS Dragon commissioned". Royal Navy. 20 April 2012. Retrieved 21 April 2012.
  65. ^ "HMS Defender". Royal Navy. Retrieved 25 September 2011.
  66. ^ "Defender resumes her sea trials as new destroyer prepares to join the Fleet". Royal Navy. 12 March 2012. Retrieved 15 March 2012.