HMS Daring (D32)

For other ships of the same name, see HMS Daring.

HMS Daring (D32)
HMS Daring in 2012
Career (UK)
Operator:	Royal Navy
Ordered:	December 2000
Builder:	BAE Systems Naval Ships
Yard number:	1061
Laid down:	28 March 2003
Launched:	1 February 2006
Sponsored by:	The Countess of Wessex
Commissioned:	23 July 2009
Homeport:	HMNB Portsmouth
Identification:	Deck code: DA Pennant number: D32 International callsign: GPLA IMO number: 4907749
Motto:	Splendide audax ("Finely Daring")
Status:	In service
Badge:	On a Field Black, an arm and a hand in a cresset of fire all Proper File:Daring Crest.jpg
General characteristics
Type:	Guided missile destroyer
Displacement:	8,000 t (7,900 long tons; 8,800 short tons)
Length:	152.4 m (500 ft 0 in)
Beam:	21.2 m (69 ft 7 in)
Draught:	7.4 m (24 ft 3 in)
Propulsion:	2 shafts Integrated electric propulsion (IEP); 2× Rolls-Royce WR-21 gas turbines, 21.5 MW (28,800 shp) each 2× Wärtsilä 12V200 diesel generators, 2 MW (2,700 shp) each 2× Converteam electric motors, 20 MW (27,000 shp) each
Speed:	In excess of 29 kn (54 km/h; 33 mph)
Range:	7,000 nautical miles (13,000 km) at 18 kn (33 km/h)
Complement:	190
Sensors and processing systems:	SAMPSON multi-function air tracking radar (Type 1045) S1850M 3-D air surveillance radar (Type 1046) 2× Raytheon I-band Radar (Type 1047) 1× Raytheon E/F-band Radar (Type 1048) Ultra Electronics Series 2500 Electro-Optical Gun Control System (EOGCS) Ultra Electronics SML Technologies radar tracking system Ultra Electronics/EDO MFS-7000 sonar
Electronic warfare & decoys:	UAT16 Surface ship torpedo defence (SSTD) Airbone Sys IDS300 decoy
Armament:	Anti-air missiles: Sea Viper air defence system 1 × 48-cell Sylver A50 VLS, for a combination of 48: Aster 15 missiles (range 1.7–30 km) Aster 30 missiles (range 3–120 km) Anti-ship missiles: 2 × quad Harpoon launchers Guns: 1 × BAE 4.5-inch (113 mm) Mk 8 naval gun 2 × Oerlikon 30 mm guns 2 × Phalanx CIWS 2 × miniguns 6 × general purpose machine guns
Aircraft carried:	1-2× Lynx HMA8, armed with; 4× Sea Skua anti ship missiles, or 2× anti submarine torpedoes or 1× Westland Merlin HM1, armed with; 4× anti submarine torpedoes
Aviation facilities:	Large flight deck Enclosed hangar

HMS Daring is the lead ship of the Type 45 or Daring-class air-defence destroyers built for the Royal Navy, and the seventh ship to hold that name. She was launched in 2006 on the Clyde and conducted contractor's sea trials during 2007 and 2008. She was handed over to the Royal Navy in December 2008, entered her base port of Portsmouth for the first time in January 2009 and was formally commissioned on 23 July 2009. As the lead ship of the first destroyer class built for the Royal Navy since the Type 42 in the 1970s, she has attracted significant media and public attention. Her name, crest and motto are a reference to the Roman youth Gaius Mucius Scaevola, famed for his bravery.

Operational history

Daring's construction began at the BAE Systems Naval Ships yard (now BAE Systems Surface Ships) at Scotstoun on the River Clyde in March 2003. The ship was launched at 14.21 GMT on 1 February 2006. HRH The Countess of Wessex was the ship's sponsor at her launch. On 16 November 2006, the Countess of Wessex brought Daring to life on her first official visit. On 17 November 2006, Her Royal Highness switched on the ship's diesel generators, part of the 'powering up' ceremony.

On 18 July 2007 Daring sailed on the first set of sea trials (Stage 1.1), successfully completing them 4 weeks later on 14 August 2007. As she is the first in the class some structural areas needed to be tested, including the loads that the main 4.5 inch Mark 8 naval gun puts on the ship. During these trials, Daring reached her design speed of 29 knots (54 km/h) in 70 seconds and achieved a speed of 31.5 knots (58 km/h) in 120 seconds. She sailed for Stage 1.2 on 30 March 2008 and returned on 2 May. Stage 1.2 included trials on the Long Range Radar and navigation system, medium calibre gun blast trials, weapon alignment tests and endurance tests. Stage 1.3 trials were conducted between 26 August and 22 September 2008 and emphasis was placed on testing the full range of communications equipment. The ship's company used the opportunity to conduct familiarisation and training activities in preparation for the transfer of the vessel to the Royal Navy in December 2008. Stage 2 trials took place in 2009, once the ship had been handed over to the Royal Navy.

Daring on operations with USS Enterprise in 2010.

HMS Daring arrived in her home port of Portsmouth on 28 January 2009 to large crowds along the seafront. She was given the honour of a flypast to coincide with her passing of the Round Tower, just outside Portsmouth. Daring was formally commissioned on 23 July 2009 with The Countess of Wessex inspecting an honour guard on the quayside, and reception. The commissioning cake was cut by the wife of the commanding officer and Able Seaman Daniel Small, who was the youngest member of the ship’s company.

Daring was declared officially "in service" on 31 July 2010, and shortly afterwards on 7 September 2010 was involved in a collision with a tug whilst entering Marchwood Military Port in Southampton Water. The cause of the collision and the extent of the damage are yet to be determined.

Recent service

HMS Daring fired her first Sea Viper missile in May 2011 during a test launch in the Outer Hebrides, after years of trials. During the same year she equipped with two Phalanx CIWS mounted on either side of the superstructure.

On 6 January 2012, the Royal Navy announced that Daring would leave Portsmouth on 11 January 2012 to undertake her first mission, a deployment to the Persian Gulf. Daring travelled through the Suez Canal on 2 February 2012, then continued on to the Persian Gulf, replacing the Type 23 frigate that was on station there. In February 2012, as part of the Persian Gulf deployment, Daring joined Operation Scimitar Anzac, an anti-piracy operation in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. This international operation included the Royal Fleet Auxiliary RFA Wave Knight, the Royal Australian Navy frigate HMAS Parramatta, and the Pakistan Navy's PNS Babur. Daring acted as the command ship for all the vessels. During operation in the Persian Gulf and North Arabian Sea, Daring operated with the U.S. Navy's Carrier Strike Group One and Carrier Strike Group Nine.

2013 Pacific Deployment

Daring entering Sydney Harbour on 4 October 2013

She has set out westwards to join the Royal Australian Navy's International Fleet Review 2013 in Sydney, Australia during October 2013; and to join the 2013 Five Power Defence Arrangements Exercise Bersama Lima. So far, she has stopped by San Juan in Puerto Rico, sailed through the Panama Canal and docked at the US Naval Base in San Diego. Recently, she made a port visit to Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. She recently participated in an Independent Deployer Certification Exercise off the coast of Hawaii. It has been said that it is engaged in ballistic defence trials with the US Missile Defence Agency (MDA) in as part of a major research and development programme. Daring also visited the USAKA at Kwajalein in the Marshall islands. She recently visited Port Phillip Bay ahead of entering Sydney Harbour for the IFR. The Band of HM Royal Marines has also flown out to participate in the IFR and 13 musicians will stay with Daring, accompanying the destroyer for the final five months of her world tour. Daring will visit Adelaide, Fremantle and Perth after her visit to Sydney.

Daring visited Singapore in November 2013, and during the course of this vist a team from the Ship's company was entered into the Singapore Cricket Club's annual Rugby Sevens Tournament. No Cup, but a good performance and a great welcome from the crowd.

Daring is also due to visit Japan in November 2013 after the IFR and make a port call in Thailand sometime in 2014. She will also visit Vietnam towards the end of 2013.

On the 11th November 2013 Daring was dispatched from its scheduled deployment visiting Singapore to the Philippines as part of the British government's humanitarian response to Typhoon Haiyan.

Advanced air-defence

Further information: PAAMS, SAMPSON, S1850M, and Aster (missile family)

HMS Daring SAMPSON multi-function AESA radar

The Type 45 destroyers are primarily designed for anti-aircraft and anti-missile warfare with the capability to defend against aircraft, drones as well as supersonic sea skimming anti-ship missiles. The Royal Navy describe the destroyers' mission as "to shield the Fleet from air attack". The Type 45 destroyer uses the sophisticated Sea Viper air-defence system utilizing the SAMPSON active electronically scanned array multi-function air tracking radar, and the S1850M long-range air surveillance radar. The Sea Viper system is able to control and coordinate several missiles in the air at once, allowing several tracks to be intercepted. It has been suggested that the SAMPSON radar is capable of tracking an object the size of a cricket ball travelling at three times the speed of sound. A core component of the Type 45's Sea Viper air-defence system is the Aster missile, composing of the Aster 15 and Aster 30. MBDA describe Aster as an anti-missile missile capable of intercepting all types of high performance air threats at a max range of 120 km (Aster 30). The Aster missile is autonomously guided and equipped with an active RF seeker enabling it to cope with "saturated attacks" thanks to a "Multiple engagement capability" and a "high rate of fire". Presently the Daring-class destroyers are equipped with a 48-cell A50 Sylver Vertical Launching System allowing for a mix of up-to 48 Aster 15 and 30 missiles. However, the Type 45 destroyer was designed to accommodate a total of 64-cells, while some reports suggest a total of 72-cells.

Characteristics

Main article: Type 45 destroyer#Characteristics

Weapons, countermeasures, capabilities and sensors

Main article: Type 45 destroyer#Weapons, countermeasures, capabilities and sensors

Commanding Officers

• 2008-2009: Captain Paul Bennett RN
• 2009-2011: Captain Patrick McAlpine RN
• 2011-2012: Captain Guy Robinson RN
• 2012–Present: Commander Angus Essenhigh RN

Affiliations

HMS Daring embarking on sea trials in 2007.

Ship's sponsor

• HRH The Countess of Wessex

Official affiliations

• City of Birmingham
• Warwickshire District Sea Cadets
• Guernsey
• The Royal Dragoon Guards
• No. 11 Squadron RAF
• HMS Forward (Birmingham Royal Naval Reserve)
• The Daring Association
• King Edward's School, Birmingham
• 4th Knowle Sea Scout Group
• Worshipful Company of Carpenters (A City of London Livery Company)
• Birmingham University Royal Naval Unit
• The D-Boats Association
• Midland Naval Officers Association
• Daring Class Yachts

Other

While not officially affiliated with the football club Aston Villa F.C., the ship has close ties with the team. The chairman of the Birmingham based club, Randy Lerner, donated a painting to the ship that depicts a maritime battle played within Villa Park, the home stadium of the club. Members of the ship's company provided a guard of honour before a game against Middlesbrough F.C. on the Remembrance Sunday weekend.

External links

• Official web page - RN
• Daring association website