Type 42 destroyer

HMS Birmingham (D86)
Class overview
Name:	Type 42
Builders:	Several different
Operators:	Royal Navy Argentine Navy
Preceded by:	Type 82 (RN) Sumner class (ARA)
Succeeded by:	Type 45 (RN) Almirante Brown class (ARA)
In service:	1975
Building:	0
Completed:	16
Active:	6
Laid up:	4
Lost:	2
Retired:	4
General characteristics
Class and type:	Guided Missile Destroyer
Type:	42
Displacement:	Batch 1 & 2: 4,350 tons full load Batch 3: 5,350 tons
Length:	Batch 1 & 2: 125 m (413 feet) Batch 3: 141.1 m (466 feet)
Beam:	Batch 1 & 2: 14 m (46 feet) Batch 3: 14.9 (49 feet)
Draught:	5.8 m (19 feet)
Decks:	8
Installed power:	50,000 shp
Propulsion:	2 shafts COGOG; 2 x Rolls-Royce Olympus TM3B high-speed gas turbines, (50,000 shp (37.5 MW)) 2 x Rolls-Royce Tyne RM1A cruise gas turbines, (8,000 shp (6 MW))
Speed:	30 knots (Olympus) 18 knots (Tyne)
Boats and landing craft carried:	2
Complement:	274 (Batch 1 and 2) 314 (Batch 3)
Sensors and processing systems:	Radar Type 1022/965P air surveillance, Radar Type 996/992Q 3-D surveillance, 2 x Radar Type 909 GWS-30 fire-control, Radar Type 1007 navigation, Sonar Type 2050 / 2016 search, Sonar Type 162 bottom profiling,
Armament:	Twin launcher for GWS-30 Sea Dart missiles, 1 x 4.5 inch Mark 8 naval gun, 2 x 3-tube STWS-1 launchers for 324 mm (12.75") A/S torpedoes (only on Argentine ships), 2 x 20 mm Phalanx CIWS (not on Argentine ships), 2 x Oerlikon / BMARC 20 mm L/70 KBA guns in GAM-B01 single mounts, 4 x MM38 Exocet anti-ship missile launchers (only on Argentine ships)
Aircraft carried:	1 x Westland Lynx HAS / HMA
Aviation facilities:	Flightdeck and hangar

The Type 42 or Sheffield class, are guided missile destroyers of the Royal Navy.

History

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The class was designed in the late 1960s to provide fleet area air-defence. In total fourteen vessels were constructed in three batches, five of which remain in service. In addition, two ships were also built to the same specifications as the Batch 1 vessels for the Argentine Navy, one of which remains in service. The ships, along with the Type 23 frigates, today help to form the backbone of the Royal Navy surface fleet, although their place is being taken by the Type 45 destroyers. HMS Sheffield and Coventry were lost in the Falklands War to enemy action, this war being the first where two surface warships of the same design have been on opposite sides since the second world war, where four Flower class corvettes were launched by the German navy.

When the Type 82 air defence cruisers were cancelled along with the proposed CVA-01 carrier by the Labour Government of 1966, the Type 42 was proposed as a lighter and cheaper design with the similar capabilities as the Type 82. The class is fitted with the GWS30 Sea Dart surface-to-air missile first deployed on Bristol. The Type 42s were also given a flight deck and hangar to field an anti-submarine warfare helicopter, greatly increasing their utility compared to the Type 82, which was fitted with a flightdeck but no on board aviation facilities.

The design was budgeted with a ceiling of £19 million per hull, but soon ran over-budget. The final design at (£21 million) became a similar concept to the lengthened 'Batch 3'. To cut costs, the first two batches had 47 feet removed from the bow and the beam-to-length ratio was reduced. These early Type 42s performed poorly during the contractor's sea trials particularly in heavy seas and the hull was extensively examined for other problems. The Batch 1s (Sheffield through to Cardiff) and Batch 2s (Exeter through to Liverpool) are notoriously poor sea-keepers compared to the later Batch 3s.

The first of class was initially fitted with exhaust deflectors (Loxton Bends) to her Rolls Royce Olympus TM1A turbine engines to minimise damage to overhead aerials. As this was a prominent target for then new infra-red homing missiles, the deflectors were removed during Sheffield's 1979-1980 refit in Portsmouth. All subsequent Olympus and Tyne uptakes were fitted with 'cheese graters' which mix machinery space vent air with the engine exhaust to minimise infra-red signatures.

The Argentine versions of this class are both based at Puerto Belgrano; Santisima Trinidad now being used for spares for her heavily modified sister, Hercules, which has a new aft superstructure and hangar and Exocet missile launchers.

Design details

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The Type 42 destroyer was built to fill the gap left by the cancellation of the large Type 82 destroyer. It was intended to fulfil the same role, with similar systems yet on a smaller and more cost effective hull. The ships are primarily carriers for the GWS-30 Sea Dart surface-to-air missile system. Although claimed to be obsolete, it is still effective against most modern missile threats, as proven in the 1991 Gulf War.

The Type 42 is also equipped with a 4.5 inch (114 mm) gun and six torpedo launchers. Two Vulcan Phalanx Mk 15 Close-In Weapons Systems (CIWS) were fitted to British type 42s after the loss of Sheffield to an Exocet missile. There have been three batches of ships, Batch 1 & 2 displacing 4,820 tonnes and Batch 3 (sometimes referred to as the Manchester class) displacing 5,200 tonnes. As per the norm, Batch 3 ships were heavily upgraded. Although the Batch 3 ships were lengthened, the planned Sea Wolf missile systems were never fitted. Because of their more general warfare role, the two Argentine ships have been fitted with the MM38 Exocet, and not with a CIWS.

The electronics suite includes one Type 1022 D-band long range radar with Outfit LFB track extractor or one Type 965P long ranger air surveillance radar, one Type 996 E/F-band 3D target indication radar with Outfit LFA track extractor or type 992Q surface search, two Type 909 I/J-band fire control radars and an Outfit LFD Radar Track Combiner.

In recent years the importance of the ageing Type 42 destroyers has increased. The UK has adopted an increasingly expeditionary defence policy and the deletion of the Sea Dart missile systems from the Invincible class aircraft carriers has made the role of escort ships all the more important.

All ships are propulsed by Rolls Royce TM3B Olympus and Rolls Royce RM1C Tyne marinised gas turbines, arranged in a COGOG (Combined Gas or Gas) arrangement, driving through Synchronous Self-Shifting Clutches into a Double Reduction, Dual Tandem, Articulated, Locked-Train gear system and out through five blade Stone Manganese Controllable Pitch Propellers (CPP). All have four Paxman Ventura 16YJCAZ diesel generators, each creating 1 MW of 3ph 440V 60Hz power.

Construction programme

In May 1982, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Jerry Wiggin) stated that the current replacement cost of a type 42 destroyer of the Sheffield class was "about £120 million."^[12]

In July 1984, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (John Lee) stated: "the average cost of the three type 42 destroyers currently under construction is £117 million at 1983–84 price levels."^[13]

Running costs

Not including major refits and upgrades

Including refits and upgrades

In May 2000, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (John Spellar) stated: "The running costs of each of the Royal Navy's Type 42 destroyers for each of the past five years are contained in the following table. This includes repair and maintenance, manpower, fuel and other costs such as port and harbour dues. Year-on-year variations are largely attributable to refit periods."^[18]

Availability

In February 1998, the Minister of State for Defence, Dr Reid said: "Type 42 destroyers achieved approximately 84 to 86 per cent average availability for operational service in each of the last five years. This discounts time spent in planned maintenance. "^[19]

Fate of ships

Service life

In May 1982, the Minister of State (Peter Blaker) was asked about the the current planned in-service life for the type 21 and type 22 frigates and type 42 destroyer, and replied: "It is too early to offer a precise assessment; but on current plans we do not expect any of these ships to be phased out before the 1990s and some will continue in service until the next century."^[21]

Replacement

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The ships are all scheduled to be out of service by 2014. By 2007 none of the Batch 1 vessels remained in commission. Initially the UK sought to procure replacements first in collaboration with seven other NATO nations under the NFR-90 project and then with France and Italy through the Horizon CNGF programme. However, both these collaborative ventures failed and the UK decided to go it alone with a national project. Jane's described this situation in its 2000 Warship's edition as 'little short of a national scandal'.

The Type 42s are now to be replaced by six Type 45 destroyers (Daring, Dauntless, Defender, Dragon, Duncan and Diamond) which have been ordered and are in the process of build and acceptance as of 2009^[update]. The Type 42 class has always suffered from cramped accommodation, a problem for crew safety and comfort, and also when finding space for upgrades. The Type 45s are to be considerably larger, displacing almost 7,400 tonnes, compared to the Type 42 displacement of 4,820–5,200 tonnes.

See also

• Media related to Type 42 destroyers at Wikimedia Commons

Footnotes

1. ^ The term used in Navy Estimates and Defence Estimates is "accepted into service". Hansard has used the term acceptance date. Leo Marriott in his various books uses the term "completed", as does Jane's Fighting Ships. These terms all mean the same thing: the date the Navy accepts the vessel from the builder. This date is important because maintenance cycles, etc. are generally calculated from the acceptance date.
2. ^ "Unit cost, i.e. excluding cost of certain items (e.g. aircraft, First Outfits)." - Text from Defences Estimates
   "They do not include other costs, such as those for Government Furnished Equipment (GFE)—as they are not held centrally for each ship and could be provided only at disproportionate cost." Bob Ainsworth, Minister of State for the Armed Forces, 16 July 2008.
3. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd be bf bg bh bi bj bk bl bm bn bo bp bq br bs bt} Marriott, Leo Modern Combat Ships 3, Type 42, pub Ian Allan, 1985, ISBN 0-7110-1453-1 page 28.
4. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r} Hansard: HC Deb 23 October 1989 vol 158 cc357-8W 357W Question to the Secretary of State for Defence regarding warship costs, 23 October 1989. This section is the first part of the table that is continued on Hansard: HC Deb 23 October 1989 vol 158 c360W .
5. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h i j k} 16 July 2008 : Column 452W Questions to Secretary of the State for Defence, 16 July 2008.
   Marriott, Leo Modern Combat Ships 3, Type 42, pub Ian Allan, 1985, ISBN 0-7110-1453-1 page 28.
   These two sources are in agreement about the dates vessels were commissioned, with the following exceptions:
   • Sheffield: Marriott 28 February 1975. Hansard 16 February 1975.
   • Glasgow: Marriott 25 May 1979. Hansard 24 May 1979.
   • Cardiff: Marriott 19 October 1979. Hansard 24 September 1979.
   • Nottingham: Marriott 8 April 1983. Hansard 14 April 1983.
   • Liverpool: Marriott 9 July 1982. Hansard 1 July 1982.
6. ^ Hansard: HC Deb 23 October 1989 vol 158 cc357-8W 357W Question to the Secretary of State for Defence regarding warship costs, 23 October 1989.
   Marriott, Leo Modern Combat Ships 3, Type 42, pub Ian Allan, 1985, ISBN 0-7110-1453-1 page 15.
   Moore, John Jane's Fighting Ships, 1982-83, pub Jane's Publishing Co Ltd, 1982, ISBN 0-7106-0742-3 page 553.
7. ^ Hansard: HC Deb 23 October 1989 vol 158 cc357-8W 357W Question to the Secretary of State for Defence regarding warship costs, 23 October 1989 says 26 November 1976.
   Marriott, Leo Modern Combat Ships 3, Type 42, pub Ian Allan, 1985, ISBN 0-7110-1453-1 page 28 says October 1976.
8. ^ Hansard: HC Deb 23 October 1989 vol 158 cc357-8W 357W Question to the Secretary of State for Defence regarding warship costs, 23 October 1989 says £31.0 million.
   Moore, John Jane's Fighting Ships, 1982-83, pub Jane's Publishing Co Ltd, 1982, ISBN 0-7106-0742-3 page 553 says £30.9 million.
9. ^ ^{a b c d} Moore, John Jane's Fighting Ships, 1982-83, pub Jane's Publishing Co Ltd, 1982, ISBN 0-7106-0742-3 page 553.
10. ^ Hansard: HC Deb 23 October 1989 vol 158 cc357-8W 357W Question to the Secretary of State for Defence regarding warship costs, 23 October 1989 says £40.5 million.
    Moore, John Jane's Fighting Ships, 1982-83, pub Jane's Publishing Co Ltd, 1982, ISBN 0-7106-0742-3 page 553 said £40.4 million.
    Marriott, Leo Modern Combat Ships 3, Type 42, pub Ian Allan, 1985, ISBN 0-7110-1453-1 page 15 said £40.4 million.
    Aldrich, Richard James Intelligence, Defence, and Diplomacy: British Policy in the Post-War World. Taylor & Francis, pub 1994, ISBN 0714641405 page 119 says: "One example of how delay in procurement programmes can raise costs is the construction of the Type-42 destroyer HMS Cardiff. Vickers Shipbuilders had originally intended to deliver the vessel in 1975 for a total cost of £15 million. Owing to difficulties in recruiting labourer to work on construction the ship was only completed in 1978 and cost double the original price (over £30 millon)." On page 129 it gives the source of this cost data as: "Fourth Report from the Committee on Public Accounts, 1976-77 (H.C. 304), April 1977, pp xii-xiii and Q. 92."
    The cost quoted in Aldrich is from a source written before the completion of the vessel, and so is less complete than the cost quoted in Jane's and Marriott, which were written after completion of the vessel, and are nearly the same as the Hansard figure.
11. ^ ^{a b c d e f} Hansard HC Deb 23 October 1989 vol 158 cc358-61W Questions to the Secretary of State for Defence, 23 October 1989.
12. ^ Hansard HC Deb 27 May 1982 vol 24 c397W Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about the current replacement cost of a type 42 destroyer of the Sheffield class., 27 May 1982
13. ^ Hansard HC Deb 23 July 1984 vol 64 c534W Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about the latest cost estimate of a type 42 destroyer, 23 July 1984.
14. ^ Hansard HC Deb 16 July 1982 vol 27 cc485-6W Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about operating costs of naval vessels, 16 July 1982.
15. ^ Hansard HC Deb 22 January 1987 vol 108 c730W Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about operating costs of naval vessels, 22 January 1987.
16. ^ Hansard HC Deb 10 March 1989 vol 148 c44W Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about operating costs of naval vessels, 10 March 1989.
17. ^ Hansard HC Deb 09 September 2003 vol 410 cc346-7W Question to the Secretary of State for Defence 9 September 2003.
18. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h i j k l m} Hansard HC Deb 22 May 2000 vol 350 cc318-9W Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about operating costs of naval vessels, 22 May 2000.
19. ^ Hansard 5 Feb 1998 : Column: 762 Answer by Secretary of State for Defence, Dr Reid, 5 February 1998.
20. ^ Daily Echo HMS Southampton bows out after 28 years
21. ^ Hansard HC Deb 04 May 1982 vol 23 c55W Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about the in-service life of frigates and destroyers, 4 May 1982.

References

v • d • e   Type 42 destroyer  Royal Navy Sheffield · Birmingham · Cardiff · Coventry · Newcastle · Glasgow · Exeter · Southampton · Nottingham · Liverpool · Manchester · York · Gloucester · Edinburgh  Argentine Navy Hércules · Santísima Trinidad Preceded by: Type 82 · Followed by: Type 45 List of destroyers of the Royal Navy