Stricken Royal Navy warship nears return to fleet after more than 3,300 days on the sidelines
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The Type 45 warship has taken a step closer to being part of the Royal Navy fleet once again
A Royal Navy destroyer which has been stuck on the side-lines for years is nearing a return to the fleet.
Type 45 warship HMS Daring has taken a step closer to being operational again. The Daring-class vessel has been struck by a myriad of issues which have kept her stuck at HMNB Portsmouth and various locations for more than 3,300 days, nearly a decade,
A statement from the HMS Daring social media account said she has taken on fuel for the first time in several years. A broadcast was made to the ship’s company, the first of any kind for a long time.
“HMS Daring hasn't heard this over main broadcast for quite some time,” the statement said. “Do you hear there. No smoking. No naked lights. Fuelling ship.'
The Type 45 destroyer, laid down in March 2003 and launched in February 2006, has spent more time in maintenance and refit than it has been at sea. Upgrades have been made to the ship as part of the Power Improvement Project, aimed at resolving the long-standing problems on the Daring-class ships.
Improvements focused on resolving propulsion issues caused by a design flaw in the Rolls-Royce WR-21 gas turbine intercooler unit. Brand new engines have been installed alongside a suite of other upgrades.
Currently, HMS Defender and HMS Diamond are undergoing similar works. HMS Duncan is expected to join them after playing a vital role in the first phase of Operation Firecrest, led by the Royal Navy flagship HMS Prince of Wales. HMS Dauntless and HMS Dragon are currently operational.
In an interview with Forces News in July, First Sea Lord General Sir Gwyn Jenkins said he expects HMS Daring to be operational again within the next six months. “What has struck me is how hard everyone is working to get her to sea,” he added.
“They all have the bit between their teeth. Most people join the Royal Navy to go to sea – it's kind of in the job title. So sailors want to be on these ships and operating them. They see what we've done with HMS Dragon recently and her deployment out to the Gulf. She's on operations right now. You talk to the sailors on board HMS Daring and they want some of the same.”