HMS Daring (D32)

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Career (United Kingdom)
HMS Daring embarking on sea trials
Ordered:	December 2000
Builder:	BAE Systems
Laid down:	28 March 2003
Launched:	1 February 2006
Commissioned:	Expected 23 July 2009
Motto:	Splendide audax ("Finely Daring")
Honours and awards:	Nil
Fate:	Sea Trials
Badge:	On a Field Black, an arm and a hand in a cresset of fire all Proper
General characteristics
Displacement:	7,205 tonnes Light Seagoing (8,092 tonnes Deep load) (both figures are 'start of life')
Length:	152.4 m
Beam:	21.2 m
Draught:	7.4 m
Propulsion:	2 Rolls-Royce WR-21 gas turbines, Alstom electric motors
Speed:	29+ knots^[1]
Range:	7,000 nautical miles (13,000 km) at economical speed
Complement:	190
Sensors and processing systems:	SAMPSON radar S1850M 3D radar MFS 7000 Sonar^[2]
Electronic warfare and decoys:	Seagnat SSTD^[3]
Armament:	PAAMS Air Defence System 6 x 8 cell SYLVER VLS Aster 15 missiles Aster 30 missiles 2 Phalanx CIWS (Close-in weapons system) BAE Systems 114 mm (4.5 inch) Mk 8 Mod. 1 gun 2 x 30 mm guns
Aircraft carried:	1 x Lynx HMA8 or 1 x Westland Merlin HM1^[4]

For other ships to have carried the name, see HMS Daring.

Daring (HMS Daring once commissioned) is the lead ship of the Type 45 or 'D' Class of air defence (AAW) destroyer in the Royal Navy and the seventh ship to hold that name.

1 Construction and launch
- 1.1 Stage 1 Trials
- 1.2 Stage 2 Trials
2 Design
3 Commanding Officers
4 Affiliations
5 Notes
6 External links

[edit] Construction and launch

Daring's construction began at the BAE Systems Naval Ships yard at Scotstoun ^[5]on the River Clyde in March 2003. The ship was launched at 14.21 GMT on February 1, 2006. HRH The Countess of Wessex was the ship's sponsor at her launch.^[6] 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.^[7]

[edit] Stage 1 Trials

On 18 July 2007 Daring sailed on the first set of sea trials (Stage 1.1)^[8], successfully completing them 4 weeks later on 14 August 2007.^[9]. As she is the first in the class some structural areas needed to be tested, including the loads that the main 4.5-inch (114 mm) gun puts on the ship.^[10] 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.^[1] 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 caliber gun blast trials, weapon alignment tests and endurance tests^[11] .

[edit] Stage 2 Trials

Stage 2 trials are intended to take place in 2009 once the ship has been handed over to the RN.^[12]

[edit] Design

The most distinctive design point of Daring is her sleekly designed straight edges and superstructure free from clutter. This is designed to give the ship a low radar cross section - commonly called stealth features. Speculation by the press suggests that this design gives the ship the radar signature of a fishing boat.^[13]

Daring has frequently been cited by the British press as being the first warship to include e-mail and entertainment systems (including iPod charging points)^[14] within the messdecks. These reports relate to 240V domestic supplies and access to external e-mail, both of which have been common features in most RN vessels for several years^[15].

Daring is, however, notable for being the first Royal Navy vessel to include gender-neutral living spaces to accommodate male and female crew members; communal shower and heads facilities have given way to individual cubicles, and six-person berths for Junior Ratings are far more flexibile in accommodating a mixture of male and female sailors.^[16] Males and females will continue to sleep in separate spaces, in common with most other world navies.

Another feature will be the introduction of a dedicated multi-gym on board, necessitated by the fact that, due to the structure of the ship, it is impossible to run continuously around the deck for exercise.

The Daring class will be the most advanced air-defence warship in the world.^[17] The ship's capabilities centre on the SAMPSON Multi Function Radar which can detect targets out to a distance of 400 km (250 miles) and the PAAMS missile system.

[edit] Commanding Officers

From	To	Captain
2006	May 2008	Cdr David Shutts RN^[18] (Senior Naval Officer)
May 2008	-	Captain Paul M Bennett OBE RN

Since launch, Daring has been commanded by a Senior Naval Officer (SNO). In May 2008 Captain P M Bennett OBE Royal Navy became the first Captain,^[19] and Cdr Shutts became the Marine Engineering Officer. This is normal practice for a ship-in-build. While a Captain has been appointed in command for this first-of-class ship, once fully in service the ship is likely to be commanded by a Warfare Officer holding the rank of Commander.