HMS Dauntless launched

From Defense Aerospace

Royal Navy's Latest Warship Makes Waves

(Source: UK Ministry of Defence; issued Jan. 23, 2007)

The Royal Navy's newest warship, the Type 45 Destroyer HMS Dauntless, was launched on the Clyde today by Lady Burnell-Nugent, wife of the Commander In Chief of the Fleet.

HMS Dauntless is the second of the new Type 45 class of Anti-Air Warfare Destroyers. The Type 45s are some of the most powerful destroyers ever built for the Royal Navy - they can sail over 600 miles a day and operate around the globe, and will be able to support global offensive and peacekeeping operations, combat drug smugglers and deliver humanitarian aid.

Armed Forces Minister, Adam Ingram said:

"We are currently investing in the biggest naval shipbuilding programme in decades, and the launch today of HMS Dauntless shows the world class ships we are proud to be delivering for the Royal Navy. This is an important milestone in the multi-billion pound Type 45 Destroyer programme, a project which will give the Royal Navy a class of one of the most advanced destroyers anywhere in the world.

"HMS Dauntless is a world class piece of engineering, designed and built in Britain. The programme currently provides 3,000 shipbuilding jobs on the Clyde, 600 shipbuilding jobs in Portsmouth and many more jobs at sub-contractors around the country. The workforce involved in building the ship should be proud of their achievement."

HMS Dauntless is fitted with a potent new air defence system able to track and destroy salvos of advanced supersonic missiles, keeping the fleet safe from air attack. Her air defence system is so advanced it can hit a target the size of a cricket ball travelling three times the speed of sound.

For the crew life has added comforts, including i-pod charging points, computer access, 5-Channel recreational audio, and larger berths. The ship also has her own hospital facilities.

BACKGROUND NOTES:

1. BAE Systems is the prime contractor for the delivery of the first six Type 45 Destroyers worth over £6 Billion.

2. The first ship of the class, HMS Daring, will start her sea trials later this year and will enter service in 2009. HMS Dauntless is expected to go into service early next decade

3. Three further Type 45 ships are under construction and work on the sixth ship is due to start soon.

4. All ships will be equipped with the world-beating Principal Anti-Air Missile System (PAAMS), which is designed to deal with multiple attacks by anti-ship missiles. The ships will be powered by the WR21 Gas Turbine and will reach speeds of up to 29 knots.

5. Vosper Thornycroft at Portsmouth and BAE SYSTEMS Surface Fleet Solutions will both build and outfit substantial sections of the ships.

6. Ship facts:

The hull structure is made of 2800 tonnes of steel which is more that the weight of the Blackpool Tower. Approximately 40 tonnes of paint will have to applied to cover an area of 100,000 square meters of steel.

Each PAAMS air defence missile is approximately the size of 10 beer barrels stacked on end, weigh almost 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 locks onto a target are so violent they 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 the volume of an Olympic swimming pool.

She contains 110 bunk 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.

7. The main design features now established are:

- Displacement: c. over 7,000 tonnes, c. 5800 tonnes (light displacement).

- Length: 152.4m.

- Max Beam: 21.2m.

- Speed: 29 knots.

- Range: 7000 nautical miles at 18 knots.

- Complement: approx. 190 (with space for 235) whilst providing significantly better accommodation standards than hitherto in destroyers/frigates.

8. Equipment selected includes:

- Weapons and Systems: The Principal Anti Air Missile System (PAAMS) with the BAE Insyte SAMPSON Multi-Functional Radar (MFR) (for surveillance and fire control) and the Thales S1850M Long Range Radar (LRR) for air/surface search. SYLVER launcher and combination of Aster 15 and Aster 30 missiles.

Other weapons systems include: Helo - launched Stingray torpedoes; 4.5" Mk 8 (Mod 1) Medium Calibre Gun system; 30mm Small Calibre Gun system. Helicopter: 1 Westland Lynx MHA 3/8 or 1 Merlin EH101 HAS 1. (ends)

Thousands Gather on the Clyde to Watch the Launch of Dauntless

(Source: BAE Systems; issued Jan. 23, 2007)

GLASGOW, United Kingdom. --– Over 13,000 people joined BAE Systems employees to watch the launch of Dauntless, the second of the Royal Navy’s fleet of Type 45 anti-air warfare destroyers. Dauntless was named and launched by Lady Burnell-Nugent at BAE Systems’ shipyard in Govan on the Clyde.

Speaking after the launch, BAE Systems Surface Fleet Solutions managing director Vic Emery said: “The success so far that has been achieved on the Type 45 contract on the Clyde is testament to the innovation, design and engineering skills of our employees and partners.

“This, the second successful launch on the Clyde in less than 12 months, has shown the commitment we have to building the next generation of warships for the Royal Navy.”

The fleet of up to eight Type 45 anti-air warfare destroyers will, in concert with the Future Aircraft Carrier, provide the backbone of the Royal Navy’s air defences for much of the first half of the 21st century.

Each destroyer will be able to engage a large number of targets simultaneously, and defend aircraft carriers or groups of ships, such as an amphibious landing force, against the strongest future threats from the air. The vessels will contribute to worldwide maritime and joint operations in multi-threat environments, providing a specialist air warfare capability until 2040.

BAE Systems is the premier transatlantic defence and aerospace company delivering a full range of products and services for air, land and naval forces, as well as advanced electronics, information technology solutions and customer support services. With 88,000 employees worldwide, BAE Systems' sales exceeded 12 billion pounds (US22 billion dollars) in 2005, excluding the Group's former interest in Airbus.