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Type 42 destroyer, City class
HMS Southampton
Originally 12 type 42 destroyers were made. 6 of the Birmingham class and 4 of the Exeter class. Two were also made for the Argentine Navy, Hercules (D1) and Santisima Trinidad (D2). Two of the Birmingham class were lost in the Falklands. HMS Shefield was destroyed by an air launched MM38 Exocet and HMS Coventry was lost due to a bombing raid.
The war brought up weaknesses in the design of the ship, most notably the lack of short range guns. It was found, that if aircraft could get past the Sea Dart missile launcher, the ship was almost defenseless against the air plane. This was rectified by the addition of more 20mm guns and the new Vulcan Phalanx. The Phalanx is a radar controlled CIWS (close in weapon system). The Phalanx is capable of tracking Upto 8 targets, sorting them in order of priority and engaging with a 6 barreled gun, firing 20mm depleted uranium bullets at close to 700 rounds per second.
Also the damage control systems of the ships were changed, the water pipes were strengthened and more of them were added. This helps in getting water onto the fires.
During the years, the Sea Dart missile system has been evolved. When designed the system was capable of engaging large supersonic bombers and not much else. The system is now highly effective at engaging incoming low level supersonic sea skimming anti ship missiles. Upgrades have also been done to the fire control systems. The destroyers can now guide Upto 8 missiles in the air at a time and conduct 4 terminal engagements at the same time.
Defence cut backs, meant that when designed the ship was scaled down. The Birmingham and Exeter class are pretty much the smallest hull the designers could get to fit all the equipment into. Originally they were meant to be a good 15 meters longer, this would improve habitability and seakeeping. However, 4 ships to this standard were built. The Manchester class, named after the lead ship.
The destroyers are now in urgent need for replacement. Not just now becoming obsolete in capabilities, the hulls are very old. Creating massive maintenance bills. The ships were designed with a 30 year life span, starting from about 1970, meaning in the early new century they would have to be replaced. The new Daring class of destroyers that will replace them, will not come into service until 2007 at the earliest, leaving the Type 42's to soldier on. HMS Birmingham has been decommissioned already due to her bad state.
But despite all these problems. These destroyers are still a match for their contemporaries in service with other navies.
HMS Southampton fires her 4.5" gun
Click here for infomation about the Manchester class destroyers
Click here for the type 42 image gallery
| Ship type: |
Air defence destroyers |
| Class: | Type 42 destroyers, Birmingham and Exeter class |
| Active: | 3 Birmingham class, 4 Exeter class |
| Names: |
Birmingham class: Newcastle (D87), Glasgow (D88) and Cardiff (D108) Exeter class: Exeter (D89), Southampton (D90), Nottingham (D91) and Liverpool (D92) |
| Displacement: | 4,400 tons |
| Length: | 412ft (125m) |
| Beam: | 47ft (14.3m) |
| Speed: | 32kts |
| Range: | 4,000miles at 18kts |
| Missiles: | 1 Dual launcher for BAe Sea dart (22 missiles in total) |
| Guns: |
1 4.5" (114mm) Vickers MK8 gun 2 or 4 20mm Oerlikon 2 20mm Vulcan Phalanx |
| Torpedoes: |
2 324mm Plessey STWS MK3 triple tubes for Marconi Stingray |
| Decoys: |
4 Marconi Sea Gnat 6 barrel launchers Graseby type 182 towed torpedo decoy |
| Radar's: |
Air search - Marconi/Signaal type 1022 Air/surface search - Plessey type 996 Navigation - Kelvin Hughes type 1006 or Racal Decca type 1006 Fire control - 2 Marconi type 909 or 901 |
| Sonars: | Ferranti type 2050 hull mounted |
| Helicopters: | 1 Westland Lynx HM8 for anti submarine warfare and anti surface warfare. |
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