HMS Dauntless (D33)

"Dauntless" (HMS "Dauntless" once commissioned) is the second ship of the Type 45 or 'D' Class of air defence destroyer (AAW) being built for the Royal Navy.

Construction and Launch

"Dauntless"'s construction began at the BAE Systems Naval Ships yard at Govan in August 2004 on the River Clyde. Dauntless was launched on 23rd January, 2007 at 3.25pm by Lady Burnell-Nugent, wife of the current Commander-in-Chief Fleet. Once commissioned it will become the adopted warship of Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Because her modules were put together outside at BAE Govan, it was possible to complete more of her structure than her sister ship, "Daring", which was launched from the covered facility at Scotstoun the previous year.

Design

The "Daring" class will be the most advanced air-defence warship in the world. [cite news | title = World's most advanced destroyer launched tomorrow
work = The Times | publisher = Times Newspapers | page = 37 | date = 2007-01-22 | accessdate = 2007-01-23] The ship's capabilities centre on the SAMPSON Multi Function Radar which can detect targets out to a distance of 400 km and the PAAMS missile system.

The Type 45 is has frequently been cited by the British press as being the first class of warship to include e-mail and entertainment systems (including iPod charging points) [cite web |url=http://www.engadget.com/2006/02/01/british-warships-get-ipod-docks-surround-sound |title=British warships fitted with Ipod docks and surround sound |publisher=Engadget.com |accessdate=2007-07-19] 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 [cite web |url=http://www.royal-navy.mod.uk/server/show/nav.6416|title=Some Myths (Myth 8) |publisher=Royal Navy |accessdate=2007-11-20] .

Affiliations

*The City of Newcastle upon Tyne
* [http://www.rgs.newcastle.sch.uk/home/ Royal Grammar School, Newcastle]
* [http://www.nufc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/Welcome Newcastle United Football Club]
* [http://www.percyhedley.org.uk/ The Percy Hedley Foundation in Forrest Hall]
* [http://www.royal-navy.mod.uk/server/show/nav.2781 Royal Naval Reserve headquarters at HMS Calliope, Gateshead]
* [http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/server/show/nav.3072 Royal Marine Reserve Tyne] [cite web|url=http://www.royal-navy.mod.uk/server/show/ConWebDoc.11116/changeNav/3533 |title=Royal Navy Website |publisher=Royal Navy |Accessdate=11-02-2008]
*Dauntless Division at Britannia Royal Naval College for Young Officers under training.

References

External links

*BBC - [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/glasgow_and_west/6292371.stm New warship launched on Clydeside]
*BAE Systems - [http://www.baesystems.com/dauntless/index.htm HMS Dauntless Home Page]
*Video of the launch [http://147.29.80.132/dauntless/images/BAE_BIG.mpg]