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HMS Dragon (D35)

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For other ships of the same name, see HMS Dragon.
HMS Dragon
HMS Dragon in 2011
Career (United Kingdom)
Name: Dragon
Ordered: December 2000
Builder: BVT Surface Fleet
Yard number: 1064[1]
Laid down: 19 December 2005
Launched: 17 November 2008
Sponsored by: Mrs. Susie Boissier
Commissioned: 20 April 2012
Identification:
Motto: "We yield but to St George"
Status: In active service
Badge: HMS Dragon badge
General characteristics
Class & type: Type 45 Guided missile destroyer
Displacement: 8,000[4] to 8,500 t (8,400 long tons; 9,400 short tons)[5][6][7]
Length: 152.4 m (500 ft 0 in)
Beam: 21.2 m (69 ft 7 in)
Draught: 7.4 m (24 ft 3 in)
Installed power:
  • 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[8]
Propulsion:
  • 2 shafts integrated electric propulsion with
  • 2 × Converteam electric motors, 20 MW (27,000 shp) each
    • Speed: In excess of 30 kn (56 km/h; 35 mph)[9]
    Range: In excess of 7,000 nautical miles (13,000 km) at 18 kn (33 km/h)[9]
    Complement: 191[10] (accommodation for up to 235)
    Sensors and
    processing systems:
    • SAMPSON multi-function air tracking radar (Type 1045)
    • S1850M 3-D air surveillance radar (Type 1046)
    • Raytheon Integrated Bridge and Navigation System
    • 2 × Raytheon AHRS INS
      (MINS 2)
    • 2 × Raytheon I-band Radar
      (Type 1047)
    • 1 × Raytheon E/F-band Radar
      (Type 1048)[11]
    • Ultra Electronics Series 2500 Electro-Optical Gun Control System (EOGCS)[12]
    • Ultra Electronics SML Technologies radar tracking system
    • Ultra Electronics/EDO MFS-7000 sonar
    Electronic warfare
    & decoys:
  • UAT Mod 2.0 (2.1 planned)[13]
  • AN/SSQ-130 Ship Signal Exploitation Equipment (SSEE) Increment F cryptologic exploitation system[14]
  • Seagnat
  • Naval Decoy IDS300
  • Surface Ship Torpedo Defence
    • Armament:
  • Anti-air missiles:
    • PAAMS air-defence system
    • 48 × Sylver vertical launching system A50 for:
    • 24 × Sea Ceptor silos to be fitted starting on HMS Defender from 2026 for:
      • 24 × surface-to-air missiles that will replace the Aster 15 missiles to allow all 48 × Sylver vertical launching systems to be used for Aster 30.][17][18][19]
  • Anti-ship missiles:
  • Guns:
    • Aircraft carried:
  • 1–2 × Lynx Wildcat, armed with:
  • or
  • 1 × Westland Merlin,[30] armed with:
    • 4 × anti-submarine torpedoes
    • Aviation facilities:
  • Large flight deck
  • Enclosed hangar

    • HMS Dragon is the fourth ship of the Type 45 or Daring-class air-defence destroyers built for the Royal Navy. She was launched in November 2008 and commissioned on 20 April 2012.[31]

    Construction[]

    Dragon's construction began at the then BAE Systems Naval Ships (later BAE Systems Surface Fleet Solutions) yard at Scotstoun on the River Clyde in December 2005, and by December 2007 the bow section was in place on the Govan slipway for mating with the other modules. Dragon launched from the slipway at Govan on 17 November 2008 at 3:00pm.[32] Her sponsor was Mrs Susie Boissier, wife of Vice Admiral Paul Boissier, Deputy Commander-in-Chief Fleet and Chief of Staff.[33] She was fitted out at Scotstoun.

    Sea trials[]

    Dragon commenced her first set of contractor's sea trials on 5 November 2010.[34]

    Dragon entered her home port of Portsmouth for the first time on 31 August 2011.[35]

    Operational service[]

    Dragon off Gibraltar in 2013

    Dragon off Gibraltar in 2013

    Dragon operating with in 2019

    Dragon operating with HMS Queen Elizabeth in 2019

    Dragon joined the Royal Navy Surface Fleet on Friday, 20 April 2012.[36] On Friday 27 April, she made her maiden visit to Liverpool, staying for three days. She opened to the public on Saturday 28 April, with visitors able to see the inside of the ship, including the operations room.

    In August 2013, it was reported Dragon was sailing with the USS Nimitz carrier group in the Arabian Sea, acting as the main point ship for aircraft control.[37][38] In August 2013, several Typhoons from No. 6 Squadron RAF were exercising with Dragon and US fighters in the Persian Gulf.[39] It sailed westward to the Eastern Mediterranean.[40]

    In April 2014, Dragon was deployed to waters north of Scotland, after sailing from Portsmouth to track the Russian warship Vice-Admiral Kulakov.[41] She was part of the Royal Navy's Atlantic Patrol Tasking in late 2014, visiting places such as the South Georgia Islands, the Falkland Islands, and a transit through the Panama Canal.[42]

    October 2016, Dragon tracked two Russian corvettes in the Atlantic Ocean and Bay of Biscay during a major deployment of Russian naval forces near the United Kingdom.[43]

    On 11 February 2017, Dragon rescued the fourteen crew of the dismasted and adrift British yacht Clyde Challenger in the Atlantic Ocean 610 nautical miles (1,130 km) south west of Land's End, Cornwall.[44] Clyde Challenger was subsequently scuttled.[45]

    A 26 November 2018 press-release claimed Dragon discovered a suspicious boat while on operation in the Middle East. Sailors and Royal Marines boarded the vessel, and found 148 bags containing 3,048 kg of hashish.[46]

    15 March 2019, Dragon made its seventh drug seizure: 224 kg of heroin from a fishing vessel in the Arabian Sea.[47] During her time in the Arabian Sea, Dragon made eight drug busts and seized over eighteen tons of narcotics, a record for the number of successful busts and the total weight of drugs seized by a Royal Navy ship in the Middle East.

    As of March 2019, HMS Montrose took over the current patrol role in the Middle East.[48] HMS Montrose replaced Dragon in the Persian Gulf in March 2019.

    HMS Dragon set sail in May 2025 to take part in NATO's Formidable Shield; the largest at-sea live-fire exercise in Europe. [49]

    Characteristics[]

    Main article: Type 45 destroyer#Characteristics

    Dragon features a red Welsh Dragon on each side of her bow, the only Royal Navy ship to be adorned in this way. The dragons were there when she was launched, but were removed in a 2011 refit. They were restored in 2016 following a fundraising campaign led by the British Warships Association.[50]

    Affiliations[]

    • Wrexham, Wales[51]
    • York, England[52]
    • Wrexham, Wales[53]
    • The Royal Thames Yacht Club
    • The Worshipful Company of Plaisterers[54]
    • The Welsh Livery Guild[55]
    • Royal Navy recognised Sea Scout Groups of Home which are 1st Barry Sea Scouts, 5th Barry Sea Scouts and 6th Barry Sea Scouts RN97
    • South Wales District Sea Cadets
    • The Dragon School

    In popular culture[]

    Dragon appeared in No Time to Die, the 25th film of the James Bond series.[56] The film inaccurately depicts the Type 45’s Aster Surface-to-Air missiles[57] as land attack missiles. Shooting for Dragon’s role in the film’s finale took place off the Faroe Islands in September of 2019.[58]

    Notes[]

    References[]

    1. ↑ "HMS Dragon". Caledonian Maritime Research Trust. https://www.clydeships.co.uk/view.php?ref=1200&vessel=DRAGON. 
    2. ↑ "Royal Navy Bridge Card, February 2011". http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/linkedfiles/referencelibrary/ref_library_docs/bridgecard11feb11.pdf. 
    3. ↑ "World Shipping Register - Ship Index". http://82.146.41.123/index/D9.shtml. 
    4. ↑ "Type 45 Destroyer". Royal Navy. http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/The-Fleet/Ships/Destroyers/Type-45-Destroyers. 
    5. ↑ "HMS Daring leaves Sydney after spectacular week of celebrations". Royal Navy. http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/News-and-Events/Latest-News/2013/October/11/131011-HMS-Daring-leaves-Sydney. 
    6. ↑ "For Queen and Country". p. 8. ""One hundred or so miles west of the largest city of Abidjan lies the fishing port of Sassandra, too small to accommodate 8,500-tonnes of Type 45."" 
    7. ↑ "HMS Duncan joins US Carrier on strike operations against ISIL". Royal Navy. 7 July 2015. http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-latest-activity/news/2015/july/07/150707-duncan-joins-us-carrier-on-operations. ""As well as supporting the international effort against the ISIL fundamentalists – the 8,500-tonne warship has also joined the wider security mission in the region."" 
    8. ↑ "HMS Daring". Wärtsilä. http://www.wartsila.com/fi/references/HMS-Daring. 
    9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 "HMS Daring - Type 45 facts by Royal Navy.pdf". https://www.scribd.com/doc/183216219/HMS-Daring-Type-45-facts-by-Royal-Navy-pdf. 
    10. ↑ Royal Navy (11 July 2013). A Global Force 2012/13. Newsdesk Media. ISBN 978-1-906940-75-1. http://www.newsdeskmedia.com/files/Global-Force-2013.pdf.  Complement as of 24 April 2013
    11. ↑ "Raytheon Press Release". 2006-03-08. http://www.raytheon.co.uk/news_room/news/press_release_08032006.pdf. 
    12. ↑ "Jane's Electro-Optic Systems". 2010-10-28. http://articles.janes.com/articles/Janes-Electro-Optic-Systems/Ultra-Electronics-Series-2500-electro-optic-tracking-and-fire-control-system-United-Kingdom.html. 
    13. ↑ "Fleet to get the latest in electronic surveillance". Ministry of Defence. September 2012. p. 18. http://www.mod.uk/NR/rdonlyres/3624A3FC-1A13-42AE-B5C6-CF8F730807C3/0/desider_52_Sept2012InternetU.pdf. 
    14. ↑ "UK to buy Shaman CESM for Seaseeker SIGINT programme". IHS Janes Defense. 29 June 2014. http://www.janes.com/article/40127/uk-to-buy-shaman-cesm-for-seaseeker-sigint-programme. 
    15. ↑ "Type 45 Ballistic Missile Defence upgrade to support more than 100 UK jobs". UK Government. 24 May 2022. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/type-45-ballistic-missile-defence-upgrade-to-support-more-than-100-uk-jobs. 
    16. ↑ "HMS Defender destroys drone in exercise which paves the way for future of air defence at sea". royalnavy.mod.uk. 2 June 2023. https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-latest-activity/news/2023/june/02/20230602-hms-defender-destroys-drone-in-exercise-which-paves-the-way-for-future-of-air-defence. 
    17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 "Snapshot: The Royal Navy escort fleet in April 2024". Navy Lookout. 20 April 2024. https://www.navylookout.com/snapshot-the-royal-navy-escort-fleet-in-april-2024/. 
    18. ↑ "£500m firepower upgrade for Type 45 destroyers" (in en). https://www.gov.uk/government/news/500m-firepower-upgrade-for-type-45-destroyers. 
    19. ↑ "Royal Navy's Type 45 destroyers – reaching their full potential with addition of Sea Ceptor missiles". 6 July 2021. https://www.navylookout.com/royal-navys-type-45-destroyers-reaching-their-full-potential-with-addition-of-sea-ceptor-missiles/. 
    20. ↑ Scott, Richard (19 December 2023). "First NSM fit on RN Type 23 frigate". https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/first-nsm-fit-on-rn-type-23-frigate. 
    21. ↑ "Contenders for the Royal Navy's interim anti-ship missile requirement". August 26, 2021. https://www.navylookout.com/contenders-for-the-royal-navys-interim-anti-ship-missile-requirement/. 
    22. ↑ NavyLookout (17 March 2023). "@HMSDuncan sails from Portsmouth this afternoon. Has been re-equipped with Harpoon missiles - the first Type 45 to carry SSM for several years.". https://twitter.com/NavyLookout/status/1636756705089409024. 
    23. ↑ "Can the UK supply anti-ship missiles to Ukraine?". 10 April 2022. https://www.navylookout.com/can-the-uk-supply-anti-ship-missiles-to-ukraine/. 
    24. ↑ Scott, Richard (February 16, 2022). "UK confirms cancellation of I-SSGW programme". Janes Information Services. https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/uk-confirms-cancellation-of-i-ssgw-programme. 
    25. ↑ "Royal Navy to buy the Naval Strike Missile". Navy Lookout. 23 November 2022. https://www.navylookout.com/royal-navy-to-buy-the-naval-strike-missile/. 
    26. ↑ "Royal Navy ships to be fitted with advanced new missile system". gov.uk. 23 November 2022. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/royal-navy-ships-to-be-fitted-with-advanced-new-missile-system. 
    27. ↑ "The all-rounder – the 30mm Automated Small Calibre Gun in focus". Navy Lookout. 13 January 2021. https://www.navylookout.com/the-all-rounder-the-30mm-automated-small-calibre-gun-in-focus/. 
    28. ↑ "In focus: the 50 cal heavy machine gun in Royal Navy service". Navy Lookout. 5 May 2023. https://www.navylookout.com/in-focus-the-50-cal-heavy-machine-gun-in-royal-navy-service/. 
    29. ↑ "Royal Navy's Sea Venom light anti-ship missile full operating capability delayed until 2026". 21 June 2023. https://www.navylookout.com/royal-navys-sea-venom-light-anti-ship-missile-full-operating-capability-delayed-until-2026/. 
    30. ↑ "Air Defence Destroyer (T45)". Royal Navy. http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/server/show/nav.2227. 
    31. ↑ "Dragon shows a flare for action during weapons trials in the Channel". Royal Navy. 2012-03-12. http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/News-and-Events/Latest-News/2012/March/12/120312-Dragon-Flare. 
    32. ↑ "HMS Dragon launched". WalesOnline. 2008-11-17. http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2008/11/17/hms-dragon-launched-91466-22275679/. 
    33. ↑ "Thousands line the Clyde to see HMS Dragon roar for first time". The Herald webpages. http://www.theherald.co.uk/news/news/display.var.2468784.0.Thousands_line_the_Clyde_to_see_HMS_Dragon_roar_for_first_time.php. [dead link]
    34. ↑ "HMS Dragon off on sea trials in the Clyde". ForArgyll.com. 2010-11-05. http://forargyll.com/2010/11/hms-dragon-off-on-sea-trials-in-the-clyde/. 
    35. ↑ "Navy News - Reporting from the Fleet". https://navynews.co.uk/archive/news/item/991. 
    36. ↑ "HMS Dragon Joins the Fleet". Ministry of Defence. http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/EquipmentAndLogistics/HmsDragonJoinsTheFleet.htm. 
    37. ↑ "Nimitz and company help Dragon prepare for new RN Carriers | Royal Navy". http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/News-and-Events/Latest-News/2013/August/01/130801-Dragon-prepare-for-new-RN-Carriers. 
    38. ↑ "Protecting the defenders on the high seas". http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/news/defence/protecting-the-defenders-on-the-high-seas-1-5448678. 
    39. ↑ "Navy News - Reporting from the Fleet". https://navynews.co.uk/archive/news/item/8625. 
    40. ↑ "Navy News - Reporting from the Fleet". https://navynews.co.uk/archive/news/item/9075. 
    41. ↑ "RAF fighter jets scrambled to investigate Russian planes". BBC News. 23 April 2014. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-27130125. 
    42. ↑ "HMS Dragon leaves Portsmouth on deployment | Royal Navy". http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-latest-activity/news/2014/october/27/141027-hms-dragon-leaves-portsmouth-on-deployment. 
    43. ↑ Lusher, Adam (20 October 2016). "British warships tracking Russian fleet heading for the Channel". The Independent. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/russian-warships-in-the-english-channel-destroyers-aircraft-carrier-aleppo-uk-british-navy-russia-a7370946.html. 
    44. ↑ "Fourteen rescued by Royal Navy warship after racing yacht becomes stranded in Atlantic Ocean". Independent Television News. 11 February 2017. http://www.itv.com/news/2017-02-11/fourteen-rescued-by-royal-navy-warship-after-racing-yacht-becomes-stranded-in-atlantic-ocean/. 
    45. ↑ "Sailing yacht Clyde Challenger abandoned at storm in Atlantic Ocean". Maritime Herald. 13 February 2017. http://www.maritimeherald.com/2017/sailing-yacht-clyde-challenger-abandoned-at-storm-in-atlantic-ocean/. 
    46. ↑ "HMS Dragon: Three tonnes of hashish seized in the Gulf". The BBC. 26 November 2018. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-46346367. 
    47. ↑ "HMS Dragon breaks record with seventh drugs bust | Royal Navy". https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-latest-activity/news/2019/march/15/190315-dragon-seventh-drugs-bust. 
    48. ↑ "HMS Dragon Seizes £56m of Heroin". 15 March 2019. https://www.forces.net/news/services/navy/hms-dragon-seizes-ps56m-heroin. 
    49. ↑ https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/watch-as-british-warship-sails-from-faslane-at-sunset/
    50. ↑ Flynn, Jessica (18 May 2016). "Welsh dragon returns to the bows of Cardiff warship". Wales Online. https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/local-news/welsh-dragon-returns-bows-cardiff-11351214. 
    51. ↑ "Navy destroyer linked to Cardiff". BBC News. 2007-05-24. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/6686029.stm. 
    52. ↑ "Yes Minster… York takes on HMS Dragon as her affiliate". Navy News. 2013-06-27. https://navynews.co.uk/archive/news/item/8155. 
    53. ↑ "HMS Dragon becomes first Royal Navy ship since the Second World War to be affiliated with Wrexham". https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news/2024/may/01/20240501-dragon-and-wrexham-affiliation. 
    54. ↑ "Worshipful Company of Plaisterers visit". Royal Navy website. http://www.royal-navy.mod.uk/operations-and-support/surface-fleet/future-ships/air-defence-destroyer-type-45/dragon/news/worshipful-company-of-plaisterers-visit/index.htm. 
    55. ↑ "LEM Draig: The Newsletter for HMS Dragon". https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/~/media/royal%20navy%20responsive/documents/welfare/newsletters/20141231-hms_dragon_dec_link_letter-u.pdf. 
    56. ↑ "Royal Navy warship HMS Dragon features in new James Bond No Time To Die trailer". Hampshire Live. https://www.hampshirelive.news/whats-on/whats-on-news/royal-navy-warship-hms-dragon-5868488.stm. [dead link]
    57. ↑ "ASTER Family | MBDA". https://www.mbda-systems.com/products/area-protection/aster-family. 
    58. ↑ "See The Spectacular Set Of No Time To Die". 24 September 2021. https://entertainmentdog.com/lifestyle/see-the-spectacular-set-of-no-time-to-die/. 

    External links[]

    • Official website
  • Preceded by: Type 42 destroyers
  • Followed by: Type 83 destroyer



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