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HMS Dragon (D35)

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For other ships of the same name, see HMS Dragon.
HMS Dragon (D35)
HMS Dragon
Dragon inbound to Southampton Water 1st May 2012
Career (UK) Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom
Name: HMS 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: 20th April 2012
Identification: Deck code: DR
Pennant number: D35
International callsign: GMIA[2]
IMO number: 4907866[3]
Motto: "We yield but to St George"
Status: In service
Badge: File:HMS Dragon Crest.jpg
General characteristics
Type: Guided missile destroyer
Displacement: 8,000 t (7,900 long tons; 8,800 short tons)[4]
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[5]
  • 2× Converteam electric motors, 20 MW (27,000 shp) each
Speed: In excess of 29 kn (54 km/h; 33 mph)[6]
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)[7]
  • Ultra Electronics Series 2500 Electro-Optical Gun Control System (EOGCS)[8]
  • 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:
  • Anti-ship missiles:
  • 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,[10] 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.[11]

    Operational history[]

    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.[12] Her sponsor is Mrs. Susie Boissier, wife of Vice Admiral Paul Boissier, Deputy Commander-in-Chief Fleet and Chief of Staff.[13] She will be fitted out at Scotstoun.

    HMS Dragon commenced her first set of contractor's sea trials on 5 November 2010.[14]

    Recent service[]

    HMS Dragon joined the Royal Navy Surface Fleet on Friday, 20 April 2012.[15] On Friday 27 April she made her maiden visit to Liverpool, staying for three days. She was 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 that Dragon was sailing with the USS Nimitz carrier group in the Arabian Sea, acting as the main point ship for aircraft control.[16][17] In August 2013, several Typhoons from No. 6 Squadron RAF were exercising with Dragon and US fighters in the Gulf.[18] It has sailed westwards to the Eastern Mediterranean.[19]

    Advanced air-defence[]

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

    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.[20] The Royal Navy describes the destroyer's mission as "to shield the Fleet from air attack". The Type 45 destroyer uses the sophisticated Sea Viper air-defence system[21] 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.[22] 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 describes Aster as an anti-missile missile capable of intercepting all types of high-performance air threats at a maximum range of 120 km (Aster 30).[23] 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".[23] 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.[20]

    Characteristics[]

    Main article: Type 45 destroyer#Characteristics

    Weapons, countermeasures, capabilities and sensors[]

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

    Affiliations[]

    The Royal Thames Yacht Club

    Notes[]

    1. ↑ The Harpoon missile is to be fitted to four of the six ships. HMS Duncan is to be the first.[9]

    References[]

    Commons-Logo Wikimedia Commons has media related to HMS Dragon (D35).
    1. ↑ "HMS Dragon at Clydebuilt database". http://www.clydesite.co.uk/clydebuilt/viewship.asp?id=21194. Retrieved 21 June 2009. 
    2. ↑ "Royal Navy Bridge Card, February 201". http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/linkedfiles/referencelibrary/ref_library_docs/bridgecard11feb11.pdf. Retrieved 2011-04-18. 
    3. ↑ "World Shipping Register - Ship Index". http://82.146.41.123/index/D9.shtml. Retrieved 2009-07-12. 
    4. ↑ "Type 45 Destroyer". Royal Navy. http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/The-Fleet/Ships/Frigates-and-Destroyers/Type-45-Destroyers. Retrieved 2011-11-06. 
    5. ↑ "HMS Daring". Wärtsilä. http://www.wartsila.com/fi/references/HMS-Daring. Retrieved 2011-08-01. 
    6. ↑ MacDermid, Alan (2007-08-15). "Daring is mean, green and built for speed". The Herald. http://www.theherald.co.uk/news/news/display.var.1617705.0.0.php. Retrieved 2007-08-15. 
    7. ↑ "Raytheon Press Release" (PDF). 2006-03-08. http://www.raytheon.co.uk/news_room/news/press_release_08032006.pdf. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
    8. ↑ "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. Retrieved 2011-08-21. 
    9. ↑ Royal Navy - HMS Duncan, royalnavy.mod.uk
    10. ↑ "Air Defence Destroyer (T45)". Royal Navy. http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/server/show/nav.2227. Retrieved 2007-11-20. [dead link]
    11. ↑ "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. Retrieved 2012-03-15. 
    12. ↑ "HMS Dragon launched". WalesOnline. 2008-11-17. http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2008/11/17/hms-dragon-launched-91466-22275679/. Retrieved 2008-11-17. 
    13. ↑ "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. Retrieved 2009-02-23. 
    14. ↑ "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/. Retrieved 2010-11-19. 
    15. ↑ "HMS Dragon Joins the Fleet". Ministry of Defence. http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/EquipmentAndLogistics/HmsDragonJoinsTheFleet.htm. Retrieved 2012-04-27. 
    16. ↑ http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/News-and-Events/Latest-News/2013/August/01/130801-Dragon-prepare-for-new-RN-Carriers
    17. ↑ http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/news/defence/protecting-the-defenders-on-the-high-seas-1-5448678
    18. ↑ https://navynews.co.uk/archive/news/item/8625
    19. ↑ https://navynews.co.uk/archive/news/item/9075
    20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 Type 45 ("Daring" Class) Destroyer
    21. ↑ HMS Dragon roars into life: Royal Navy's latest and most technologically advanced warship is launched
    22. ↑ Harding, Thomas (2006-02-03). "New warship is 'quantum leap forward' for the Navy". Daily Telegraph. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/02/02/navy02.xml&sSheet=/news/2006/02/02/ixhome.html. Retrieved 2007-03-10. 
    23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 MBDA - Aster PDF
    24. ↑ "Navy destroyer linked to Cardiff". BBC News. 2007-05-24. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/6686029.stm. Retrieved 2008-03-09. 
    25. ↑ "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. Retrieved 2010-12-14. 

    External links[]

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



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