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HMS Defender (D36)

2013 MODERN NAVY

History of HMS Defender (D36)

The Royal Navy has ordered six Type 45 "anti-aircraft destroyers" for its fleet. Due to its leading ship name ("HMS Daring (D32)"), this class is also recognized as the Daring class. The Type 45 team succeeded the older Type 42 that entered service in 1975 during the Cold War. The Type 45 has been in service since HMS Daring entered service in July 2009. The other ships in this class are HMS Dauntless (D33), HMS Diamond (D34), HMS Dragon (D35), HMS Defender (D36) and HMS Duncan (D37).

The defense power plant BAe Systems (BAe Systems Surface Ships) has completed the construction of the entire class.

The HMS Defender becomes the fifth ship in the Valiant class, with her own construction commencing on 31 July 2006 as the UK continues its commitment to the global war on terror. She was launched on October 21, 2009, and officially commissioned on March 21, 2013, and is still in service at the time of writing (2015).

She fights under the motto "Fendendo Vince" ("Through defense I conquer").

In keeping with the design qualities of her sisters, the Defender has an overall length of 500 feet, a beam of 89.6 feet, and a draft of 24.2 feet. She has a displacement of 8,800 tons (short) and is powered by 2 Rolls-Royce WR-21 gas turbines (28,800 hp each) with 2 Wartsila 12V200 diesel generators (2,700 hp each) and 2 Converteam electric motors (27,000 hp) drive 2 axles with Integrated Electric Propulsion (IEP).

This enables the vessel to travel at nearly 30 knots and a range of up to 7,000 nautical miles. Your typical team members are 190 employees.

Although the 45 series are classified as "anti-aircraft destroyers", they are actually guided missile destroyers in the true sense of the word. Its primary weapon is the Sylver A50 series 48-cell Vertical Launch System (VLS) for Aster 15 and Aster 30 surface-to-air missiles. Also includes 2 x Harpoon anti-ship quad launchers. More conventional weapons include 4.5" Bae Mk-8 turrets, 2 x 30mm Oerlikon cannons, 2 x 20mm Phalanx Close Combat Weapons Systems (CIWS), 2 x 7.62mm Miniguns and 6 x 7.62mm General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMGs).

All of these Both enable the ship to attack targets in the air (including cruise missiles and drones) and at sea as needed. Her short-range weapons give her significant attack power against approaching suicide ships and can also be launched upon boarding to protection.

Her overall missile capabilities allow her to protect elements of accompanying fleets or set strategic waters as "no-fly zones" - including ports. In addition to these mounted weapons, the ship supports a pair of naval helicopters, They themselves are used for anti-ship/anti-submarine roles

Cutaway of the HMS Defender showing a long forecastle with lines broken by the forward (position "A") deck guns and turrets. Behind this location is a raised platform that houses the VLS components. Harpoon missile launchers are also nearby.

The bridge connects to a low hull superstructure, clearly identified by a row of rectangular windows. The superstructure is also slab side for concealed design. The forward part of the fuselage is an enclosed pyramid-shaped mast, completed by a surveillance and fire control radome (FC).

The satellite communication dome is located below the masts on both sides. Smoke funnels are also available in flat designs and tapered shapes. The other mast is located near the rear body weight and is topped by a thin mast.

This area of ??the ship also contains an air/surface search radar array. The stern section is occupied by a fully enclosed full-service hangar to support helicopter and drone operations, and a helipad is located above the stern. The vessel is approved to support up to 2 Westland Lynx HMAs. 8 medium helicopters or 1 Westland Merlin HM. 1 medium helicopter.

Both can serve in anti-submarine warfare (ASW) roles.

After the Defender entered service in March 2013, it underwent a final round of testing and evaluation, lasting until November. In December, she rejoined members of the Russian fleet for a cruise off the east coast of Scotland, but was delayed by bad weather.

From there, the ship was assigned to the U.S. fleet as part of Task Force 50 (TF50) and used her systems to protect the powerful and vital U.S. carrier force. This coincides with elements of joint U.S., U.K. and other operations against ISIS/ISIL making progress in Iraq and Syria.