The UK’s sixth and final Type 45 Destroyer, HMS Duncan has entered into service with the Royal Navy four months ahead of schedule. The 7,500 tonne vessel will now head for trials to ready for operational deployment.
Despite being scheduled to enter service in early 2014, due to the hard work of both the ship’s company and industry since her arrival in Portsmouth, HMS Duncan is ready to take up duties.
HMS Duncan’s handover to the fleet marks the end of a 13 year build programme with BAE Systems to deliver the six ships – Daring, Dauntless, Diamond, Dragon, Defender and Duncan.
Minister for Defence, Equipment, Support and Technology, Philip Dunne MP said:
“The Type 45 programme has provided the Royal Navy with one of the most sophisticated and effective air defence ships available anywhere in the world.
“We expect these vessels to see decades of service protecting the UK’s interests around the world, including providing humanitarian aid as we saw recently with HMS Daring’s efforts in the Philippines.”
Commander James Stride RN, HMS Duncan’s Commanding Officer, said:
“The Ship’s Company is rightly proud to be on-board such a cutting edge warship as she becomes a fully fledged member of the operational Fleet.
“HMS Duncan joins the Royal Navy as the most advanced ship we have ever operated alongside the rest of the Type 45 class, able to operate across the globe protecting the Fleet.”
Armed with the world-leading Sea Viper missile defence system which can neutralise threats up to 70 miles away, the Type 45s are the most powerful air defence destroyers ever used by the Royal Navy.
Measuring 152 metres in length, HMS Duncan and her sister ships are longer than 16 double decker buses and as tall as an electricity pylon. Her onboard power plant can supply enough electricity to light a town of 80,000 people.
[mappress] Press Release, December 31, 2013; Image: Royal Navy