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HMS Defender (D36)
Organisation / Units & Squadrons

HMS Defender (D36)

Launched in December 2009, HMS Defender is the fifth of the Royal Navy’s six Type 45 destroyers. Together with her sister vessels, Defender is one of the most advanced warships ever constructed.

HMS Dauntless

Role

Led by Commander Peter Evans, along with her fellow Type 45 destroyers, HMS Defender’s primary role is to provide the Fleet with air defence using the ferocious Sea Viper anti-air missile system. With a range of up to 70 miles, the Sea Viper is truly a force to be reckoned with.

At any one time, this high-tech warship could be hunting pirates, drug runners and submarines, defending the Fleet air attack, or providing humanitarian aid after a natural disaster. 

Daring Class

Unit history

1797

HMS Defender

There have been seven previous ships of this name. The first was a 12-gun brig that was disposed of in 1802 during the Peace of Amiens.
1797

HMS Defender

There have been seven previous ships of this name. The first was a 12-gun brig that was disposed of in 1802 during the Peace of Amiens.
1804

The Second Defender

The second HMS Defender was a 14-gun brig launched in 1804 and wrecked in 1809.
1804

The Second Defender

The second HMS Defender was a 14-gun brig launched in 1804 and wrecked in 1809.
1809

The Third Defender

The third Defender was a captured French privateer, previously the Beau Marseille. Captured by HMS Royalist, she was sold in 1814.
1809

The Third Defender

The third Defender was a captured French privateer, previously the Beau Marseille. Captured by HMS Royalist, she was sold in 1814.
1883

Colonial Torpedo Boat

The fourth Defender was a second class colonial torpedo boat, and can still be seen on display at the Torpedo Boat Museum in Lyttleton, New Zealand.
1883

Colonial Torpedo Boat

The fourth Defender was a second class colonial torpedo boat, and can still be seen on display at the Torpedo Boat Museum in Lyttleton, New Zealand.
1911

Battle history

The next HMS Defender was a destroyer commissioned in 1911. She saw extensive action throughout World War I before being sold in 1921.
1914

Battle honours

Heligoland 1914.
1915

Battle honours

Dogger Bank 1915.
1916

Battle honours

Jutland 1916 - Defender was damaged by a German shell but carried out sufficient repairs to return to base in Aberdeen with HMS Onslow in tow. The Captain, Lieutenant Commander L R Palmer, receives the DSO.
1932

The Fifth Defender

The fifth Defender took part in the action at Spartivento and the victory off Cape Matapan. She was lost off Egypt in 1941 after being bombed on a convoy run to Tobruk.
1932

The Fifth Defender

The fifth Defender took part in the action at Spartivento and the victory off Cape Matapan. She was lost off Egypt in 1941 after being bombed on a convoy run to Tobruk.
1950

Shore establishment

Named briefly as a shore-based unit in Liverpool during the Battle of the Atlantic, the Defender name returned to sea in 1950 as a Daring-class destroyer.
1950

Shore establishment

Named briefly as a shore-based unit in Liverpool during the Battle of the Atlantic, the Defender name returned to sea in 1950 as a Daring-class destroyer.
2009

The latest Defender

The current HMS Defender is the fifth Type 45 Destroyer. She was launched in 2009.
2009

The latest Defender

The current HMS Defender is the fifth Type 45 Destroyer. She was launched in 2009.

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