Duncan, the sixth and final Type 45 destroyer built by BAE Systems, has set sail from the Clyde in preparation for her handover to the U.K. Royal Navy.
Duncan set off from the company’s Scotstoun yard with a combined BAE Systems and Royal Navy crew for the 600-mile journey to her new home port of Portsmouth. Duncan’s departure was delayed due to a technical issue and the BAE Systems team has worked tirelessly with the Ministry of Defense to complete repairs over the weekend. The team will now actively work to complete the delivery program in record time ahead of formal handover to the Royal Navy on arrival at Portsmouth.
Working alongside the Royal Navy at Portsmouth Naval Base, BAE Systems also provides in-service support to all of the Type 45 destroyers, with the company’s engineers coordinating all aspects of repair, maintenance and support to improve ship availability and reduce through life support costs.
The Type 45s will service the U.K.’s naval air defenses for the next 30 years and beyond. The destroyers are capable of carrying out a wide range of operations, including anti-piracy and anti-smuggling activities, disaster relief work and surveillance operations as well as high intensity war fighting.
Each destroyer can 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 a specialist air warfare capability to worldwide maritime and joint operations.
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