Presenting the £1bn warship that can defend London single-handedly

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A warship billed as the world's most advanced destroyer today finished its first test run on the open sea. HMS Daring, the first in a batch of six destroyers ordered by the Royal Navy, is capable of defending London from missile and aircraft attack.

The £1 billion ship, constructed in Glasgow and Portsmouth, slipped her moorings and sailed down the Clyde from Scotstoun shipyard on July 18.

And the past month has not been an easy one, as over 200 workmen toiled to steer the ship through challenging tests and often tough conditions.

The weather swung from dead calm to howling winds up to gale force six, and the tests focused mainly on getting the ship's propulsion systems up and running.

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The gleaming hulk of the 152-metre ship

She can go from zero to her top speed of 31 knots in a little over two minutes, and can come to a stand still from this high speed in five-and-a-half ship lengths, builder BAE Systems said.

Daring also went up to a firing range on the island of Benbecula in the Western Isles to try out her array of guns, which include missiles 20 times more manoeuvrable than a Formula One car.

And bosses at BAE Systems have hailed the trials a success.

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• Cost: £1 billion

• Expected in service: 2009

• Built by: BAE Systems Scotstoun, River Clyde

• Size: Five times higher than Nelson's column

• Speed: 29 knots in just over 70 seconds

• Displacement: 7,350 tons

• Length: 152.2m

• Range: 7,000 nautucal miles

• Crew: 190

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"It is early days in her life, but Daring has already lived up to the high standards that we have set for her," said Commander David Shutts, the most senior officer aboard.

"She promises to be a tremendous asset for the Royal Navy and the men and women who will serve on her."

There is no doubt the gleaming hulk of the 152-metre ship is an odd sight as it sails out of the seaside resort of Largs into the Clyde of Firth.

A slowly revolving sphere planted on a towering metal cone sits alongside a gigantic spinning jet black panel, giving the ship enviable long distance radar coverage, according to BAE.

It has a range of 300 kilometres, according to Vic Emery, managing director of BAE surface fleet solutions, and could protect the whole of London if parked in the Thames.

Her manoeuvrability is also impressive. At one point, she flipped over on her side, drawing a figure of eight in the calm waters of the Firth of Clyde, the sea coming frighteningly close to the starboard side.

Over 200 workmen toiled to steer the ship through challenging tests

But she maintained her high speed, and those on deck remained firmly on their feet.

Her advanced stealth technology also provides extra protection - when the 500ft ship is picked up on radar it appears as small as a fishing boat.

Conditions for sailors on board have greatly improved as well. Gone are the days of up to 40 sailors packed into one cabin.

Now the maximum number in one cabin is six, and facilities are greatly improved.

Every room has the internet, and there are connection points for charging mp3 players.

Ross McLure, BAE's area manager for HMS Daring, has managed the ship during the trial, and was delighted at how it had gone.

He said: "It is fantastic. I have worked in Glasgow's yards for 31 years, and this is the first sea trial I have done on any ship I have been involved in building.

"The way it handles and the way it even looks is far superior to any ship built in my time with BAE."

And Mr McLure also welcomed BAE's commitment to the city's shipyards. Six destroyers will be built in the yards, which will cost £6 billion, and should provide work until 2014 when the last ship is set to be delivered.

As well as his long career there, his two brothers used to work in the yards and now his son, Calum McLure, 19, is an apprentice with the company.

He said: "In the 80s and 90s, there were just redundancies and redundancies. This is a stronger contract than we have ever had."

HMS Daring is the first of six Type 45 destroyers ordered by the Royal Navy. Her home port will be Portsmouth, and she is set to be handed over at the start of 2009.

The warships have nearly twice the range - about 7,000 miles - and are 45% more fuel-efficient than the Type 42 destroyers they are to replace.

 

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