HMS Dauntless (D33)

Air-Defense Guided Missile Destroyer Warship

United Kingdom | 2010

"HMS Dauntless D33 represents the second of six Type 45 air-defense destroyers for the British Royal Navy."

Image from the United States Department of Defense imagery database.

Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 06/27/2018 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site; No A.I. was used in the generation of this content.

HMS Dauntless is a "Type 45" guided missile destroyer of the British Navy. The Type 45-class totals and are also known collectively under the designators of "D" or "Daring-class" for the lead ship (HMS Daring (D32)). As guided missile destroyers, they are made more compact than frigates and their armament suite is led by missiles instead of more conventional projectile-based armament. In this way, the vessels are used in the roles of air defense and as a counter to enemy surface ships at range. All six of the warships remain in active service as of 2015, the first commissioned in July 2009 with the last coming online in September of 2013. HMS Dauntless marks the second ship of the class.

Dauntless was ordered in December of 2000 and saw her keel laid down on August 28th, 2004 by BAe Systems Surface Fleet Solutions at Yard No. 1062. She was launched on January 23rd, 2007 and was formally commissioned on June 3rd, 2010. She fights under the motto of "Nil Desperandum" meaning "Never Dispair".

HMS Dauntless relies on a twin shaft Integrated Electric Propulsion (IEP) arrangement which constitutes 2 x Rolls-Royce WR21 gas turbines delivering 28,000 horsepower each, 2 x Wartsila 12V200 diesel generators of 2,700 horsepower each, and 2 x Converteam electric motors of 27,000 horsepower each. This allows the vessel to reach dash speeds up to 29 knots in ideal conditions and an operational range out to 7,000 nautical miles.

The armament suite of HMS Dauntless is led by a 48-cell Sylver A50 Vertical Launching System (VLS) seating a combination supply of Aster 15 short-range and Aster 30 medium-to-long range Air-to-Air Missiles (AAMs). Two Harpoon anti-ship quad-launchers are featured to combat enemy surface vessels. More conventional (projectile) armament is seen through the BAE 4.5" Mk 8 turreted deck gun, 2 x 30mm Oerlikon guns, 2 x Phalanx Close-In Weapon Systems (CIWSs) and 2 x Miniguns. For extreme close-in defense or boarding/interception actions, the vessel is also outfitted with 6 x 7.62mm General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMGs).

HMS Dauntless is outfitted with the latest in sensors and processing systems. The SAMPSON fit serves as a multi-function air tracking radar while the S1850M is a 3-D air surveillance radar system. Raytheon provides a pair of I-band radars along with an E/F-band radar system. An Ultra Electronics Series 2500 Electro-Optical Gun Control System (EOGCS), SML Technologies radar tracking suite and MFS-7000 sonar unit round out the complex array of systems and subsystems in play. Electronic warfare and countermeasures are handled by the UAT 16 series unit, a Surface Ship Torpedo Defence (SSTD) fit, and the Airborne Sys IDS300 decoy unit.

Dauntless carries a forecastle of noticeably long length, its profile broken up by the 4.5" turret gun found in the "A" position. A raised platform just aft of this installation is the aforementioned Sylver VLS for the primary missile payload. The "B" position along the forecastle is home to the Harpoon anti-ship missile launchers. The bridge superstructure is of a low-profile design with the bridge proper identified by its row of rectangular windows. The superstructure is slab-sided and well-contoured to the hull while the main mast is enclosed and of a pyramidal design reaching far above the bridge area. Atop the structure is a Sampson surveillance and fire control radome. Lower along the mast sides are sponsons containing smaller SATCOM domes. The aft superstructure is integrated with the low-profile funnel and a thinner mast is featured here. An air/surface search radar array is fitted over the aft superstructure. The stern is taken up by a helicopter flight deck which receives a full-service hangar as part of the aft superstructure. This supports a Westland Lynx or similar medium-lift naval helicopter. Her typical crew complement numbers 190 personnel.

Dimensions include a length of 500 feet, a beam of 59.6 feet and a draught of 24.2 feet. Displacement is 8,800 tons (short).

HMS Dauntless underwent her sea trials during the early part of 2010 and was in official service by the end of that year. She underwent exercises in May of 2011 and arrived in Norfolk, Virginia, USA for June of 2011 for additional exercises with allies. She then stopped in London during September and was sent to the Falkland Islands in January of 2012. From there, she entered Middle East waters and served in the coalition anti-piracy operations there which took her into 2015. She last served in an escort role for the American Navy carrier USS Carl Vinson as the Vinson's warships engaged ISIS/ISIL targets in Iraq and Syria.

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Power & Performance
Those special qualities that separate one sea-going vessel design from another. Performance specifications presented assume optimal operating conditions for HMS Dauntless (D33).

2 x Rolls-Royce WR-21 gas turbines developing 28,800 shaft horsepower each with 2 x Wartsila 12V200 diesel generators developing 2,700 shaft horsepower each and 2 x Converteam electric motors developing 27,000 shaft horsepower each driving 2 x shafts.
Propulsion

30.0 kts
34.5 mph
Surface Speed

7,000 nm
8,055 miles | 12,963 km
Range

Structure
The bow-to-stern, port-to-starboard physical qualities of HMS Dauntless (D33).

190
Personnel
Complement

500.0 ft
152.40 meters
O/A Length

69.6 ft
21.21 meters
Beam

24.2 ft
7.38 meters
Draught

8,800
tons
Displacement

Armament
Available supported armament and special-mission equipment featured in the design of HMS Dauntless (D33).

1 x 48-cell SYLVER A50 vertical launch systems (VLSs) for Aster 15 or Aster 30 series surface-to-air missiles.
1 x 4.5" BAE Mk 8 Mod 1 deck gun
2 x 30mm anti-aircraft cannons
2 x 20mm Phalanx Close-In Weapon Systems (CIWSs)
2 x 7.62mm Miniguns for short-range defense
6 x 7.62mm General Purpose Machine Guns for short-range defense.

Air Arm
Available supported fixed-wing / rotary-wing aircraft featured in the design of HMS Dauntless (D33).

Up to two medium-lift helicopters carried.

Ships-in-Class (6)
Notable series variants as part of the HMS Dauntless (D33) family line as relating to the Type 45 group.

HMS Daring (D32); HMS Dauntless (D33); HMS Diamond (D34); HMS Dragon (D35); HMS Defender (D36); HMS Duncan (D37)

Operators
Global operator(s) of the HMS Dauntless (D33). Nations are displayed by flag, each linked to their respective national naval warfare listing.