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Royal Navy's Dragon enters the Clyde - Royal Navy History



With an 18-metre-long Welsh Dragon attached to its bow, the Royal Navy's latest Type 45 destroyer, to be called HMS Dragon, was launched from BVT's shipyard at Govan into the Clyde yesterday, Monday 17 November 2008.

Dragon, the fourth Type 45 destroyer, will join her sister ships as one of the largest and most powerful warships in the world.

As well as providing air defence over a wide area, including for the future aircraft carriers, the Type 45s will be highly versatile and able to conduct a variety of operations. They will be able to carry up to sixty Royal Marines Commandos and their equipment, and operate a Chinook-sized helicopter from the flight deck.

Minister of State for Defence Equipment and Support, Quentin Davies, said:

"I am delighted to be here today to witness the launch of our latest destroyer Dragon. She is a fine example of the UK's shipbuilding prowess and will boost the Royal Navy's capability when she enters service in 2012.

HMS Dragon, the fourth Type 45, will join her sister ships as one of the Royal Navy's most capable destroyers ever and the world's best air defence ships. Picture: LA(Phot) Simon Ethell
HMS Dragon, the fourth Type 45, will join her sister ships as one of the Royal Navy's most capable destroyers ever and the world's best air defence ships. Picture: LA(Phot) Simon Ethell

"These are exciting times for shipbuilding here in the UK and today's launch marks another milestone in the T45 programme. Work for the Type 45 destroyers and the future aircraft carriers is sustaining thousands of jobs, not just here in Scotland but across the country.

"I look forward to watching Dragon's progress as she undergoes her sea trials next year."

Admiral Sir Mark Stanhope, Commander-in-Chief Fleet, said:

"The launch of Dragon is another important landmark in delivering future Royal Navy capability. We are in the middle of the largest procurement programme for the Royal Navy in many years and today's event underlines the importance of the Royal Navy in the 21st Century.

Commander Ian Jackson, HMS Dragon's Senior Naval Officer. Picture: Darren Setter
Commander Ian Jackson, HMS Dragon's Senior Naval Officer. Picture: Darren Setter

"The Type 45 destroyers will be powerful and versatile ships, capable of undertaking a wide range of military tasks. They are based on first-class innovation and engineering which will set new standards in air defence and they will ensure that the Royal Navy remains at the forefront of the world's navies."

Complete with the latest upgrade to satellite communications systems, the destroyer will carry the world-leading Principal Anti-Air Missile System (PAAMS), allowing it to defend high value ships from the most dangerous air threats, including multiple attacks by sophisticated anti-ship missiles.

Speaking after the launch, Alan Johnston CBE, Chief Executive Officer of BVT Surface Fleet, said:

"The launch of Dragon is an excellent opportunity to celebrate the progress that is being made on this programme here on the Clyde. Only four days ago, the second ship in the class, Dauntless, departed the Clyde on her maiden voyage, her first set of sea trials off the west coast of Scotland, and today we have seen her magnificent sister ship take to the water for the first time.

Sea Cadets form a guard of honour at the launch of Dragon. Picture: LA(Phot) Hamish Burke
Sea Cadets form a guard of honour at the launch of Dragon. Picture: LA(Phot) Hamish Burke

"Each of these milestones on the Type 45 contract is testament to the innovation, design and engineering skills of our employees and partners and proof of our commitment to building the next generation of warships for the Royal Navy."

Dragon was named and launched by her Lady Sponsor, Mrs Susie Boissier, in front of several thousand members of the public, including over two thousand school children wearing dragon masks.

The six T45 destroyers being built for the Royal Navy are in various stages of build, outfit, and trials:

* The first of class, Daring, successfully completed her final set of sea trials whilst in the contractor's hands in September;
* Dauntless, the second of the T45s, started her initial set of sea trials on 14 November 2008, for a period of four weeks;
* Diamond, the third, is being fitted out on the Clyde and will go to sea for the first time in the next 12 months;
* Dragon, the fourth, was launched on 17 November 2008 from Govan shipyard;
* The bow for the fifth T45, Defender, was rolled out at Portsmouth Naval Base in April 2008 and good progress continues to be made on her build;
* The steel cut for the sixth Type 45, Duncan, took place on 29 February 2008.

Facts and Figures

* A Type 45 has a range of around 7,000 nautical miles (12,964 kilometres) - that's New York and back without refuelling.
* The hull structure is made of 2,800 tonnes of steel which is more than the weight of the Blackpool Tower.
* Her 152-metre length is equivalent to more than 16 double decker buses and she is as high as an electricity pylon.
* Her fuel tanks have a volume equivalent to approximately half that of an Olympic-sized swimming pool.
* Approximately 40 tonnes of paint will have to be applied to cover an area of 100,000 square metres of steel.
* Each PAAMS air defence missile is approximately the size of ten beer barrels stacked end-on-end, weighing almost as much as a small car, and from launch accelerates to a speed twice that of Concorde in under ten seconds.