Yuku free message boards

Diamond, the third Type 45 anti-air destroyer for the Royal Navy, was launched on Nov. 27. The lead ship, HMS Daring, will be commissioned in 2009. (UK MoD photo)

(Source: UK Ministry of Defence; issued Nov. 27, 2007)

The Royal Navy's newest and most powerful Type 45 destroyer - Diamond - was launched today, Tuesday 27 November 2007, from BAE's shipyard at Govan, on the River Clyde. Thousands of local people turned out for the launch, including many local schoolchildren.

The Type 45 destroyers are the larger and more powerful replacement for the existing Type 42s. The destroyer will carry the world-leading PAAMS system (Principal Anti-Air Missile System) which is capable of defending a Type 45 and ships in its company from multiple attacks by the most sophisticated anti-ship missiles.

Baroness Taylor, Minister of State for Defence Equipment and Support, said:

"The new Type 45 Destroyers - such as Diamond - will be the most powerful destroyers ever built for the Royal Navy.

"We are in the middle of the biggest shipbuilding programme for the Royal Navy in decades and today's launch of Diamond demonstrates the scale of that investment.

"This is an important day for the Govan shipyard, the Royal Navy, and indeed the UK, and is a tribute to the hard work of everyone involved in this project. I look forward to following Diamond's progress through her sea trials."

The First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Sir Jonathan Band, added:

"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 will ensure that the Royal Navy remains at the forefront of the world's navies.

"Today confirms the excellent progress we are making on the Type 45 programme."

As well as providing air defence over a wide area, including for the future aircraft carrier, the Type 45 will be able to conduct a wide variety of other operations. They will be able to carry up to 60 Royal Marines Commandos and their equipment, support Special Forces operations, and operate a Chinook sized helicopter from the flight deck. The size of the ship will also allow accommodation standards to be better than in previous classes.

Diamond was named and launched by the Lady Sponsor Mrs Suzie Johns, wife of Vice Admiral Adrian Johns CBE, the Navy's Second Sea Lord. The event was followed by an aerial search and rescue display by a Royal Navy Sea King helicopter and a firework display.

Good progress is being made on the Type 45 programme with two ships currently in the water, Diamond, the third launched today, and the fourth and fifth ships (Dragon and Defender) being built.

The first of class, Daring, successfully completed initial sea trials in August 2007, and the second vessel, Dauntless, was launched in January 2007.

The Type 45 programme is currently providing 4,000 shipbuilding jobs on the Clyde, 3,600 shipbuilding jobs in Portsmouth, and many more jobs at sub-contractors around the country.

http://www.defense-aerospace.com/cgi-bin/client/modele.pl?session=dae.31299193.1196273707.LVyBrX8AAAEAABhcTMkAAAAM&modele=jdc_34

(Source: BAE Systems; issued Nov. 28, 2007)

GLASGOW, United Kingdom. - Diamond, the third of the Royal Navy's new Type 45 class of anti-air warfare destroyers, was successfully launched from the BAE Systems' shipyard at Govan, on the Clyde, today.

The Lady Sponsor, Mrs Suzie Johns, wife of Vice Admiral Adrian Johns CBE, the Royal Navy's Second Sea Lord and Commander in Chief Naval Home Command, named the ship at the ceremony which included an aerial display from a Royal Navy Sea King helicopter and entertainment from Strathclyde Police Pipe Band.

As the bottle of champagne was broken on the ship's bow, over 12,000 people gathered in the yard to watch the launch were treated to a fireworks display to mark this special occasion.

Speaking after the launch, BAE Systems Surface Fleet Solutions managing director Vic Emery said: "This is the second successful launch we have seen at Govan in 2007 and I am delighted that so many people came along to share the occasion with us, particularly the 5,000 children who attended with their schools.

"The success on the Type 45 contract so far 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."

The fleet of up to eight Type 45 anti-air warfare destroyers, in concert with the recently announced Future Aircraft Carrier part of which will also be built at Govan, will provide the backbone of the Royal Navy's air defences for much of the first half of the 21st century.

Each destroyer will be able to engage a large number of targets simultaneously, and defend aircraft carriers or groups of ships, such as an amphibious landing force, against the strongest future threats from the air. The vessels will contribute a specialist air warfare capability to worldwide maritime and joint operations in until 2040.


BAE Systems is the premier global defence and aerospace company delivering a full range of products and services for air, land and naval forces, as well as advanced electronics, information technology solutions and customer support services. With 96,000 employees worldwide, BAE Systems' sales exceeded £15 billion (US $27 billion) in 2006, on a pro forma basis, assuming BAE Systems had owned Armor Holdings Inc for the whole of 2006.

http://www.defense-aerospace.com/cgi-bin/client/modele.pl?session=dae.31332094.1196370971.0sQQxn8AAAEAABNahVUAAAAT&modele=jdc_34