The Royal Navy’s HMS Daring has set a regrettable record. HMS Daring was in dock for repairs for seven years, three months and 19 days – almost 88 months. That means more time in the workshop than in active service. The British Defense Journal reported on this situation in connection with the Type 45 destroyer.
HMS Daring was launched on February 1, 2006. She was officially commissioned by the Royal Navy on July 23, 2009. The commissioning ceremony marked the ship’s operational readiness.
During her service, HMS Daring was involved in a variety of missions. Most notably, she was deployed to the Persian Gulf in 2012 to provide maritime security and support anti-piracy operations. The ship also took part in NATO exercises and provided humanitarian assistance in the Philippines following Typhoon Haiyan in 2013.
Due to technical and logistical challenges, HMS Daring has been undergoing extensive repairs for several years. One of the main reasons for the long repair time is the ship’s propulsion system. The Type 45 destroyers had significant problems with their Rolls-Royce WR-21 gas turbines, which were prone to failure, especially in warm waters. These problems required a major overhaul of the propulsion system to ensure reliability and performance.
Another important aspect of the repairs is improving the ship’s power generation capabilities. The original design of the Type 45 destroyers did not adequately account for the increasing power requirements of modern naval systems and weapons. In addition, the repairs include updates to the ship’s combat systems and electronic warfare capabilities. These improvements are essential to maintaining the ship’s operational capability and keeping pace with advances in naval technology.
Logistical challenges have also contributed significantly to the delay. The complexity of the repairs requires specialised equipment and expertise that is not always immediately available. In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted supply chains and labour availability, further complicating the repair process.
Perhaps the good news for the British Navy, and for HMS Daring in particular, is that the seven-year refit is not the longest in naval history. The warship that holds the record for the longest continuous repair time in history is the USS Constitution, also known as “Old Ironsides.” Launched in 1797, this legendary American frigate underwent numerous repair and restoration phases during her long service, but the longest uninterrupted repair period occurred in the 20th century.
The USS Constitution was decommissioned in 1905 and placed in dry dock, where she underwent extensive restoration until 1931. This 26-year period of repair and restoration was necessary because the ship was in deteriorating condition after more than a century of service. The goal of the restoration was to preserve the ship as a historical artifact and symbol of America’s naval heritage.
The extensive renovation included replacing rotted timbers, restoring the ship’s rigging and ensuring structural integrity. The work was meticulous and required skilled craftsmanship and historical accuracy to preserve the ship’s authenticity. Funding for the restoration came from both public and private sources, including a significant contribution from schoolchildren who raised money as part of a nationwide campaign.
British military and defence experts are concerned about the deteriorating condition of HMS Daring, a Type 45 destroyer, and its lengthy, seven-year refit. According to a 2021 statement by former First Sea Lord Admiral Lord West, the situation is “deeply disturbing”, and stresses the fear that the operational capability of the Royal Navy is at risk due to the extended maintenance period.
Defence analyst Francis Tusa pointed to broader problems in a 2020 interview with The Times, stating: “The lengthy refit of HMS Daring points to deeper problems in the Royal Navy’s fleet management and maintenance schedules. This impacts not only the availability of the ship, but also the training and readiness of the crew.”
The House of Commons Defence Committee has also expressed its concerns. In a 2019 report, the committee stated: “The major refit of HMS Daring and other Type 45 destroyers raises serious questions about the sustainability and resilience of the Royal Navy’s surface fleet. The Government must address these issues to ensure the UK can meet its defence obligations.”
Jane’s Defence Weekly, a respected military magazine, stated in 2022 that the delays in the refit of HMS Daring were due to the following: “technical challenges and budget constraints.” An anonymous high-ranking naval officer emphasized: “The problems with HMS Daring are not isolated; they point to deeper systemic problems in procurement and maintenance that need to be urgently addressed.”
According to a 2023 article by defence correspondent Dominic Nicholls in the Telegraph: “The lengthy refit of HMS Daring has significantly compromised the Royal Navy’s air defence capabilities. The ship’s long absence from active service underscores the enormous challenges facing the UK naval forces.”
HMS Daring is a Type 45 destroyer of the Royal Navy, known for her advanced air defence capabilities. She is the lead ship of her class and represents a significant advance in naval technology, particularly in terms of radar and missile systems.
HMS Daring’s dimensions are impressive: she has a length of approximately 152.4 metres (500 feet), a beam of 21.2 metres (69.5 feet) and a draught of 7.4 metres (24.3 feet). These dimensions contribute to her stability and operational capability in a variety of maritime conditions.
The ship’s crew normally consists of around 190 people, but can accommodate up to 235 people if required. This includes officers, sailors and specialists who manage the ship’s complex systems and ensure its operational readiness.
HMS Daring is equipped with the Sea Viper missile system, which uses Aster 15 and Aster 30 missiles to combat long-range air threats. It also has a 4.5-inch Mark 8 naval gun, Phalanx CIWS for close-range defence and various machine guns for additional protection. It primarily serves as an air defence destroyer, protecting naval forces from air threats. It is also capable of combating surface and submarine warfare, maritime security operations and humanitarian aid and disaster relief.
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