[WIP] HM Royal Navy - Type 45 'Daring' Class Destroyer
The Royal Navy's Type 45 Destroyers
Overview
The Type 45 destroyer, also known as the Daring-class, is a class of six guided-missile destroyers built for the United Kingdom's Royal Navy. These ships are considered among the most advanced warships ever built by the UK and were designed primarily for anti-air warfare (AAW) to replace the older Type 42 destroyers. Their main mission is to defend the fleet, particularly the nation's aircraft carriers, from air attacks using state-of-the-art missile and radar systems.
Design and Specifications
The Type 45 destroyers are significantly larger than their predecessors, with a displacement of around 8,500 tonnes and a length of 152.4 meters. Their design incorporates a stealthy superstructure with reduced radar cross-section, which helps them appear as a smaller target on enemy radar.
Propulsion: They use an innovative Integrated Electric Propulsion (IEP) system, which consists of Rolls-Royce WR-21 gas turbines and Wärtsilä diesel generators that power two electric motors. This system allows them to reach speeds in excess of 30 knots and gives them a long range of over 7,000 nautical miles at a cruising speed of 18 knots. While this system offers high efficiency, it has faced reliability issues in hot climates, leading to a comprehensive Power Improvement Project (PIP) to address the flaws.
Complement: The destroyers can accommodate a crew of around 190, with additional space for embarked forces.
Weapons and Sensors
The Daring-class is built around the Sea Viper air defense system, which is its principal weapon.
Main Weapon System: The Sea Viper system consists of the SAMPSON multi-function radar and the S1850M long-range radar. The SAMPSON radar, a large spherical array visible on top of the mast, can track hundreds of targets simultaneously from great distances and guide the Aster missiles to their targets.
Missiles: The ships are armed with a 48-cell Sylver vertical launching system (VLS) for a combination of Aster 15 (for short-range defense) and Aster 30 (for medium-range defense) missiles. These missiles are capable of intercepting and destroying supersonic anti-ship missiles and aircraft. The Type 45s are also being upgraded to have a ballistic missile defense capability.
Guns: For surface and land bombardment, they are equipped with a single 4.5-inch Mark 8 naval gun. They also have two 30mm guns and two Phalanx Close-In Weapon Systems (CIWS) for close-range defense against incoming threats.
Aviation: The destroyers have a flight deck and hangar to operate a helicopter, typically a Merlin or Wildcat, which can be used for anti-submarine warfare and other missions.
[THIS WARSHIP IS STILL A HEAVY WORK IN PROGRESS AND SHOULD BE TREATED AS SUCH!! ITEMS AND LAYOUT ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE THROUGHOUT UPDATES TO THE CRAFT!! INFINITE ELECTRIC AND FUEL ARE REQUIRED FOR USE!!]
