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 The
Royal Navy's newest warship, the Type 45 Destroyer HMS Dauntless,
was launched on the Clyde January 23, 2007 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.
BAE Systems is the prime contractor for the delivery of the
first six Type 45 Destroyers under contract worth over £6
Billion. Vosper Thornycroft at Portsmouth and BAE SYSTEMS Surface
Fleet Solutions will both build and outfit substantial sections
of the ships. The first ship of the class, HMS Daring, will
start her sea trials later in 2007 and will enter service in
2009. HMS Dauntless is expected to go into service early next
decade. Three further Type 45 ships are under construction and
work on the sixth ship is due to start soon.
The Type 45 is a 152.4 meter long ship, (21.2 meter beam) with
maximum displacement of 7,000 tons. The ships are powered by
the WR21 gas turbine and will reach a maximum speed of up to
29 knots. Cruising at 18 knots she can travel continuously for
up to 7,000 nautical miles. Her complement includes some 190
seamen (with space for 235).
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| Weapons and Systems:
The Principal Anti Air Missile System (PAAMS) comprising the
BAE Insyte SAMPSON Multi-Functional Radar (MFR) providing area
surveillance and fire control, Thales S1850M Long Range Radar
(LRR) for air/surface search and SYLVER missile container/launcher
loaded with a combination of Aster 15 and Aster 30 missiles.
These missiles are designed to provide effective defense against
multiple attacks by subsonic sea-skimmers and supersonic anti-ship
missiles. On-board gun systems include the 4.5" Mk 8 (Mod
1) Medium caliber gun and 30mm small caliber gun systems.
Type 45 destroyers are equipped with a helicopter landing pad
operating Helicopter the Westland Lynx MHA 3/8 or Merlin EH101
HAS 1. In the offensive anti-submarine role, these helicopters
can carry the Stingray torpedoes.
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