Daring Handed to Royal Navy

The 7,381.5 ton Daring has now completed a range of stringent trials and tests and is due to sail to her home port of Portsmouth in the UK in January 2009 to undertake several months more of trials and training before she is declared ready for operational service.

The construction of Daring has involved thousands of people at shipyards on the Clyde in Scotland and at Portsmouth, using factories and businesses across the UK.

Accepting the first-of-class from Prime Contractor, BVT Surface Fleet Ltd, MOD's Defence Equipment and Support Type 45 program director, Dave Twitchin, said:
"The Acceptance-off-Contract today of HMS Daring is by far the most exciting and formative milestone of the year. It is the culmination of an incredible amount of hard work by all those who have been involved in the program, particularly in the past two years. HMS Daring has proved herself to be a highly capable ship and has delivered on all of her promises and more. The final phase of her sea trials under MOD control will test her even further.

"I have no doubt that she will come through with flying colors, and will become the hallmark of the modern Royal Navy and will go on to provide great service for many years to come."

Since being launched by the Countess of Wessex in 2006, Daring has been fitted with the Principal Anti-Air Missile System (PAAMS), designed to deal with multiple attacks by anti-ship missiles, and her long range and multi-function radars. The ship has a number of helicopters, including the Chinook, which will be able to operate from her deck.

Captain Bennett said:
"Anyone who has sailed on HMS Daring will tell you that she is a truly magnificent ship.
"The Type 45 is an incredibly complex warship using cutting-edge technology throughout; around 80 per cent of the equipments used are new to service. It will provide a positive step-change in the UK's air defence capability and will be a vital part of the Royal Navy's future armoury."

Daring will be capable of undertaking a wide range of missions from combat to humanitarian and will be able to carry a significant number of extra people such as troops or evacuated personnel on board. Top quality accommodation has been fitted so the crew can live and work in comfort. The ship also has her own hospital facilities complete with operating table.

The ship is powered by the WR21 Gas Turbine, enabling her to reach speeds of up to 29 knots (54 kilometres per hour). She has already successfully completed an extensive programme of rigorous sea trials demonstrating her capability as a world class air defence destroyer.

Daring will leave her home on the Clyde with a fully-trained crew, arriving into Portsmouth for the first time in January 2009.