Britain’s six Type 45 destroyers are the most advanced warships the nation has ever built. Their mission is to shield the Fleet from air attack using the Sea Viper missile which can knock targets out of the sky up to 70 miles away if necessary.
-
Current Location
Atlantic, Caribbean & USA
10:54 GMT - 23 May 2013
Atlantic, Caribbean & USA
Follow the story
Type 45 Destroyers
The Type 45s can also be used as general-purpose warships; they have huge flight decks to accommodate helicopters up to the size of a Chinook. There’s enough space on board to host a Royal Marines detachment up to 60-men strong.
As for the ship’s company, they enjoy ‘creature comforts’ only dreamed of by their forebears: no sailor lives in a mess square for more than six people and there are no communal heads (toilets) or showers.
All Type 45s will be based in Portsmouth and will serve until around 2040.
- Displacement
8000Tonnes
- Complement
190
- Beam
21.2metres
- Length
152metres
- Range
7000miles
HMS Daring
HMS Daring is the first of the Navy’s six £1bn Type 45 destroyers and in early 2012 she was the first of class to deploy with a seven-month stint in the Gulf protecting shipping and working with regional partners, spending 139 days at sea, visiting 12 different countries, and travelling more than 34,643 nautical miles.
-
HMS Daring
HMS Daring is the first of the Navy’s six £1bn Type 45 destroyers and in early 2012 she was the first of class to deploy with a seven-month stint in the Gulf protecting shipping and working with regional partners, spending 139 days at sea, visiting 12 different countries, and travelling more than 34,643 nautical miles.
-
HMS Defender
HMS Defender is the fifth of the Navy’s six state-of-the-art Type 45 destroyers – Defender was built in Glasgow which is one of her two affiliated cities (the other is Exeter). After delivery to her home port of Portsmouth in July 2012 and acceptance into the Fleet in March 2013, she is now undergoing extensive sea trials and training in order to undertake operational duties anywhere in the world when tasked.
-
HMS Diamond
HMS Diamond is the third of Britain's fleet of six Type 45 destroyers. Launched on the Clyde by our sponsor, Lady Johns, in November 2007, the ship arrived in Portsmouth in the autumn of 2010 and was commissioned in the spring of 2011. She deployed in June 2012 on her maiden deployment to the Gulf and was the last RN ship home before Christmas. Her New Year begins with some well-earned rest and recuperation.
-
HMS Dragon
HMS Dragon is the fourth of the Navy’s six £1bn Type 45 destroyers – and the latest to be commissioned into the Fleet. She was launched 17 November 2008 by her Lady Sponsor – Mrs Susie Boissier. After successfully completing extensive trials, the destroyer was handed over to the Royal Navy and made her debut in Portsmouth in the late summer of 2011. She is due to deploy for the first time in spring this year.
-
Duncan
HMS Duncan, the final Type 45 destroyer, was the most complete at launch in October 2010 and will be the quickest from launch to delivery to her base port of Portsmouth. She entered service with the Royal Navy on March 22 this year.
-
HMS Dauntless
HMS Dauntless, the second of the Type 45 destroyers, joined the Fleet in November 2010, shortly after being the first of class to fire the new Sea Viper missile.
-
LATEST NEWS
TOP STORIES
Defender demonstrates sporting talent in Hamburg
16 May 2013While in Hamburg as part of their four-day visit for...
Royal Navy puts great into British at Hamburg port festival
16 May 2013Making her first ever foreign visit, the Type 45 destroyer...
HMS Defender road to Twickenham
16 May 2013During a busy working week and with preparations well underway...
Current jobs
Chef
As a highly-trained Chef, you’ll be part of a busy team cooking and preparing first class food, making sure the ship’s company (which, on an assault ship, could be up to 900 people) receives three nutritious meals a day. It’s...
More info
Engineering Technician (Weapon Engineering)
As an Engineering Technician (Weapon Engineering), it’ll be your job to protect your ship and your crewmates from any kind of attack. You’ll be part of a team maintaining and operating the ship’s complex communications, detection and weapon systems, including missiles,...
More info
Marine Engineer Officer
At sea, you'll lead a team of skilled technicians, with responsibility for the ships, hull, engines, power and water, air and hydraulics systems. On shore, you could join an integrated project team, reviewing and improving the performance of our ships,...
More info
