British Destroyer sets sail ahead of exercise

HMS Dauntless, a Type 45 Daring-class destroyer, has departed from Portsmouth to commence a series of sea trials ahead of its involvement in the upcoming Exercise Strike Warrior.

The destroyer left port at approximately 8:30 am, passing by HMS Queen Elizabeth before heading out into open waters, as families gathered to wave off the crew.

Dauntless smoothly slipped into the sea amidst breezy conditions along the south coast.

These sea trials are a significant step in preparing the vessel for its role in Exercise Strike Warrior. This deployment follows a previous period of maintenance and upgrades, including improvements under the Power Improvement Project.

Dauntless is now set to put its systems and crew through rigorous testing over the coming days.

The departure of HMS Dauntless marks the ship’s return to active duty following recent taskings in the Caribbean, where it was engaged in counter-narcotics operations and supported local authorities in hurricane preparations.

The destroyer seized over a tonne of cocaine from smugglers, with a street value exceeding £140 million, demonstrating its versatile operational capabilities.

All ready to depart@RoyalNavy @RNJobsUK pic.twitter.com/zkJbk5m21u

— HMS Dauntless (@HMSDauntless) October 5, 2024

HMS Dauntless – Key Specifications and Recent Taskings:

• Displacement: 8,000 to 8,500 tonnes
• Length: 152.4 metres
• Armament: PAAMS air-defence system, Aster 30 missiles, Naval Strike Missiles (from 2024), 4.5-inch Mark 8 naval gun, Phalanx CIWS
• Aircraft: Capable of carrying one Lynx Wildcat or Westland Merlin, armed with anti-ship missiles or anti-submarine torpedoes
• Speed: In excess of 30 knots

Construction of Dauntless began at BAE Systems’ Govan yard in August 2004, and the vessel was launched in January 2007. After a major refit under the Power Improvement Project, Dauntless returned to sea in 2022. Most recently, it was deployed in the Caribbean for six months in 2023, where it carried out drug interdiction operations and assisted in hurricane preparedness.

Having recently undergone maintenance, Dauntless is also set to become the first ship in its class to be equipped with the Naval Strike Missile.