HMS Daring D32
HMS Dauntless D33
HMS Diamond D34
HMS Dragon D35
HMS Defender D36
HMS Duncan D37

With the aging Type 42 multi-role air defense destroyers approaching the end of their service life, and contemplating the addition of two large deck aircraft carriers, the United Kingdom identified a requirement to replace the Type 42 class with a more capable, modern, AEGIS-like vessel that could provide the wide area air coverage needed for the new Queen Elizabeth aircraft carriers and respond to modern threats such as low flying, highly manueverable, high speed anti-ship missiles.

Several abortive attempts were made to design this class of vessel for the UK, beginning with purely indegenous design, proceeeding to an abortive attempt to be a part of the Horizon project with France and Italy (which France and Italy have proceeded with to production), and ultimately ending with an indegenous design that represents the Type 45, Daring class.

What was originally to number as many as twelve vessels was first reduced to eight, and then finally six of these destroyers.

The first vessel, HMS Daring, D32, was launched in February, 2006, five years later than orignally contemplated. Since that time, however, the project has moved along very well and all six vessels have been built, launched and commissioned:

HMS Daring, D32, L: Feb. 1, 2006, C: July 23, 2009
HMS Dauntless, D33, L: Jan. 23, 2007, C: June 3, 2010
HMS Diamond, D34, L: Nov. 27, 2007, C: May 6, 2011
HMS Dragon, D35, L: Nov. 17, 2008, C: April 20, 2012
HMS Defender, D36, L: Oct. 21, 2009, C: March 21, 2013
HMS Duncan, D37, L: Oct. 11, 2009, C: Sep. 26, 2013

These are very capable escorts for the two new Royal Navy Carriers, but with those six, if both carriers are at sea at the same time in different locations, the Daring class will be just about maxed out in defending them and also conducting their own maintenance.

The heart of the system is the Active Phased Array Radar system (APAR), Principle Anti-Air Missile System (PAAMS), coupled with the SAMPSON fire control and tracking radar, the SYLVER missile launcher, and the Aster 15 (short range) and Aster 30 (long range) missiles. The principle role of the vessels is clearly short to long rang fleet air defense.

The ships were fitted out for, but not with, two Phalanx 20mm CIWS. Since building, all six have no been fitted out with the Phalanx CIWS. They have all been fitted for, but not with, eight Haproon anti-shipping missiles. Since launching, four sets of missiles have been identified and are being installed on four of the vessels. There are also no Stingray torpedo mounts on the ships themselves, though with its sonar and with the embarked Lynx or Merlin ASW helicopter, the ASW capability will remain strong.

Many in Europe believe that the PAAMS/SAMPSON combination with its active phased array, to be superior to the American AEGIS system. It is a newer design, but with the many years of operational experience the American system has, coupled with its modernization based on that experience, and with it being now widely distributed amongst five nations, it is doubtful that the new system will exceed the operational effectiveness or capabilities of the AEGIS system, though only time will tell.

In any case, the new Daring DDGs aare very capable, modern multi-role, intergrated destroyers and will be an exceptional compliment to their American allies, and will allow those nations to effectively defend their own interests most capably.