The Ministry of Defence has detailed the status of each Type 45 Destroyer in the fleet.

The information came to light in response to a written question submitted in the House of Commons.

Mark Francois, Member of Parliament for Rayleigh and Wickford, asked:

“To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the sea-going status is of each of the six Type 45 Destroyers; and which of those ships are (a) operationally available, (b) undergoing maintenance and/or a refit and (c) temporarily unavailable due to propulsion problems.”

Jeremy Quin, Minister of State for the Ministry of Defence, responded:

“HMS DEFENDER is currently deployed as part of the Carrier Strike Group (CSG21) while

HMS DIAMOND has experienced some technical issues and has detached from CSG21 for maintenance, inspection and defect rectification.

HMS DARING and HMS DUNCAN are currently undergoing planned deep maintenance.

HMS DAUNTLESS, the first of the Type 45 Destroyers to undergo a Power Improvement Project upgrade, is expected to return to sea for trials this year.

HMS DRAGON is undergoing a period of planned maintenance in advance of further operational commitments.”

As pointed out above, HMS Diamond is temporarily detached from HMS Queen Elizabeth’s Carrier Strike Group group after suffering a defect. You can read more about that here.

HMS Diamond suffers serious defect during Carrier Strike Group deployment

Also of note is a recent announcement regarding the firepower of these vessels. MBDA UK has been awarded an 11-year contract to integrate the Common Anti-Air Modular Missile, often referred to as Sea Ceptor, into the Type 45 destroyers’ Sea Viper weapon systems.

Type 45 Destroyers to receive £500m ‘firepower upgrade’

In addition to this, a 10-year contract with Eurosam will provide a refresh of the Aster 30 missiles that are currently in use, say the Ministry of Defence.

MBDA also say on their website:

“The work will see CAMM (Sea Ceptor) paired with an upgraded Sea Viper command and control (C2) system for the first time. CAMM offers both world-leading close-in and local-area air defence, and will complement Aster 30, strengthening the anti-air defence capability of the Royal Navy. Fitting CAMM onto the Type 45s will give the destroyers a 50% increase in the number of its air defence missiles. Installation will be via 24 additional launcher cells, and the Sea Viper C2 will get a technology upgrade, giving it a major increase in processing power. The existing 48 Sylver cells on the Type 45 will now be solely for the longer-range Aster 30 missile, which is also subject to a recently announced mid-life refresh. This will see the missile remain in service throughout the life of the Type 45s.”

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George has a degree in Cyber Security from Glasgow Caledonian University and has a keen interest in naval and cyber security matters and has appeared on national radio and television to discuss current events. George is on Twitter at @geoallison
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James
James
2 years ago

So we have 1 Destroyer active. That’s pretty damn appalling to be honest.

Supportive Bloke
Supportive Bloke
2 years ago
Reply to  James

It does seem very, very odd that 4 of them would be in serious states of maintenance where reactivation and rearming will be a very slow process.

I can see now why SoS wanted to get more ships operational before asking for more ships.

Trouble is that fixing the ships to make them operational in the medium to long term inevitably makes them non operational in the short term.

Don’t think they quite got the balance right here.

Gunbuster
Gunbuster
2 years ago

One is in a regular FTSP in the UK . It’s a 4 week alongside maintenance period. Usually the ship remains at less than 48 hrs notice for sea. Even Diamond will still be at 48 hrs or less notice for sea despite the defect to the GT.
Even ships in planned docking periods rarely go below 72 or 96 hours notice for sea.
You can always get Ship out if you need to surge units… They may have reduced OC (operational capability) and not look pretty but it can be done.

ChariotRider
ChariotRider
2 years ago
Reply to  Gunbuster

Ah, realism and education.

Much appreciated Gunbuster, ta muchly.

So apart from some bad luck for Diamond and the longer time for the PIP, not too bad shape really. 4 ships at potentially 96 hours notice or better.

Cheers CR

Supportive Bloke
Supportive Bloke
2 years ago
Reply to  Gunbuster

I’d be amazed if the ships mid PIP can be reactivated in 96 hours with bits of drivetrain all over the place and holes cut in them.

However, I defer to your more recent knowledge.

Josh P
Josh P
2 years ago
Reply to  Gunbuster

I was just thinking as I read this again, ‘The MOD could much better answer this if they included NTM states’ although I wonder if that would be sensitive.

Graham
Graham
2 years ago
Reply to  James

What happens when we cut the number built to six and then take a gamble on the propulsion system that turns out to be duff. This is the short sightedness of British defence policy. In a hostile environment we could easily lose the sole T45 and either have to withdraw or lose the carriers they’re supposed to protect. We just don’t have the numbers of anything to be taken really seriously.

Spyinthesky
Spyinthesky
2 years ago

So one is available and active. Somewhat depressing.

Gareth
Gareth
2 years ago

1/6 – pretty lame. Slow clap for the MoD.

Quentin D64
Quentin D64
2 years ago
Reply to  Gareth

Not a good show at all. At they really need to crack on with the Camm and upgrades and get each ship kitted out with some newer ASMs, why not fit
for up 8-12-16? And a triple torpedo systems.

And not to sound too flippant but could they build a couple more newer ABM T45s in the mean time? Why wait another 10 years before the T83 comes along.

Orcman
Orcman
2 years ago

Well, someone’s going to say it, so it may as well be me: This shows that 6 Destroyers is NOT ENOUGH to provide sufficient operationally available escorts for a 2-carrier fleet, it is barely enough for one! As usual, politicians don’t exactly answer the question, so I’ll summarise: a) operationally available/deployed: (1) HMS Defender; b): b1) undergoing maintenance: (2) HMS Dauntless, HMS Dragon; b2) in deep refit: (2) HMS Daring, HMS Duncan; c) temporarily unavailable due to propulsion problems: (1) HMS Diamond (Taranto, Italy). So one spin is that only 1 of the 6 is fully functional and available, which… Read more »

Quentin D64
Quentin D64
2 years ago
Reply to  Orcman

You have my vote…

Ron5
Ron5
2 years ago
Reply to  Orcman

Send your thank you card to one George Brown. Financially illiterate clown who thought he had a chance of running the World Bank.

Chris
Chris
2 years ago
Reply to  Ron5

George Brown? Did you mean Gordon Brown?

AlexS
AlexS
2 years ago
Reply to  Ron5

What this have to do with Gordon Brown?
The project and engineering team made very bad work.

James Fennell
James Fennell
2 years ago
Reply to  Ron5

George Brown, that takes me back – the phrase ‘tired and emotional’ was invented for him. You mean Gordon Brown presumably?

Meirion X
Meirion X
2 years ago
Reply to  Orcman

Duncan and Darling have both been refloated in water, and I seen a photo of the firefighting crew training on board.
Is there a crew shortage?

Last edited 2 years ago by Meirion X
geoff
geoff
2 years ago
Reply to  Meirion X

Darling? As in Alistair?

Daniele Mandelli
Daniele Mandelli
2 years ago
Reply to  geoff

 😅 

Orcman
Orcman
2 years ago
Reply to  Meirion X

Yes and no. The RN certainly has a lack of fully trained personnel, and not enough to man all the vessels in the Fleet at the same time. But, one “silver lining” is that during the Covid outbreak, recruitment numbers have been up, so much so that additional INT (Initial Naval Training) entries have been run at BRNC Dartmouth and HMS Collingwood, as well as the normal intakes at HMS Raleigh – so as these sailors progress the shortages should ease. The move to unmanned MCM vessels also frees up trained sailors as the existing manned MCM’s are phased out… Read more »

criss whicker
criss whicker
2 years ago
Reply to  Orcman

considering the Americans have over 50 i belive, the R/N is looking shamfully short with ONE does it not.

we should have had at leat the original 12,

Orcman
Orcman
2 years ago
Reply to  criss whicker

I’m sure most of us agree that more T45 hulls would have been better, whether it was 8, 12 or even 15. That debate is, of course, over, but the debate as to what replaces the T45’s (T83 apparently) and how many are to be built is just starting, and I think we should be making the case that 6 T83’s will be insufficient for future needs. Personally, if it were up to me (which it isn’t), and money was no object (which it is) I would order and build 8+ T83’s, and then mothball the 6 T45’s to be… Read more »

Paul42
Paul42
2 years ago

I believe Daring is undergoing the first stage of PIP and will be the next vistor to Cammell Lairds. Dauntless seems behind with hers, but she is the guinea pig so no surprise there. Have no idea about Duncan. All being well Diamond and Dragon will be available shortly….. Its not good, 6 was never going to be enough! Let’s hope somebody is paying attention and learning from this………

Esteban
Esteban
2 years ago
Reply to  Paul42

The 6 month PIP has now drug on to over 14 months.

AlexS
AlexS
2 years ago
Reply to  Esteban

Yes, that is quite strange.
A book i’ll buy would be the History of T45 Class.

Paul Irving
Paul Irving
2 years ago
Reply to  Esteban

Drug? What have pharmaceuticals got to do with it?

Peter S
Peter S
2 years ago

I’m sorry to raise again the consequences of the aircraft carrier programme. But it must be obvious ,even to their most enthusiastic supporters, that the enormous cost of the ships and their F35s (£7b+ £9b) has inflicted massive damage on the rest of the fleet. T42 replacement halved so that we now have just 1 air defence destroyer available. T23s to be replaced by what are little more than OPVs. What is the point of having 2 carriers we can’t afford to equip with full air wings? Given the stated aims of operating CSG and 2 LRGs with forward basing… Read more »

Supportive Bloke
Supportive Bloke
2 years ago
Reply to  Peter S

The cost of the carriers was not what has materially affected this.

It was the focus on wars in hot sandy places and also the lack of anyone to fight with a near peer airforce.

When T45 came about it was probably most likely to be used to deal with rogues likes Sadam etc.

Peter S
Peter S
2 years ago

The sandbox wars and much of the UOR procurement were funded outside the main defence budget. Looking at the timelines of decisions on the destroyer and carrier projects: the reduction of the former from 12 in 2000, to 8 in 2004 to 6 in 2008; by which time a decision to proceed with the carriers had been made with some, albeit underestimated,idea of costs, it is inconceivable that the commitment to 2 large carriers had no effect on decisions on other procurement. Whatever happened we are now stuck with 2 carriers we have insufficient aircraft for and far too few… Read more »

Tony
Tony
2 years ago
Reply to  Peter S

Even if we only had one full air wing for a carrier, having two carriers makes complete sense. Otherwise you end up with a France situation, where if your carrier is in for any kind of repairs / refit you have exactly 0 availability. What happens if a war breaks out and your only carrier is sat in a drydock somewhere? You are buggered.

Meirion X
Meirion X
2 years ago
Reply to  Tony

Yes, very true!

David Steeper
2 years ago
Reply to  Peter S

The best anti-air and air-ground weapon on the face of the planet is the F35. If we hadn’t built the Carriers we would have had an additional 4 Type 45’s that’s it. If your concerned by the slow pace of F35 procurement I doubt there’s anyone on this site who’d disagree with you. The Carriers though are not the problem.

Airborne
Airborne
2 years ago
Reply to  Peter S

You only really need one airwing as both carriers were never planned to operate together with an air wing each. As for the “sandbox” wars, the money came from the defence budget and the extra UOR budget, by way of deferring ongoing projects, year after year, and re-directing money to the UORs etc. While it wasn’t directly taken straight out of the defence budget its inconceivable that the money used for the sandbox wasn’t then taken away from the military in the short term. But alas you are correct insofar that 6 x 45s are certainly not enough and the… Read more »

Peter S
Peter S
2 years ago
Reply to  Airborne

The net additional costs of Afghanistan from 2001 and Iraq from 2003 were funded by the Treasury’s reserve outside the main defence budget. There may well have been a knock on effect on governments attitude to the core budget but that has never been admitted.
Agree that a an upgrade to T31s announced spec would be the simplest way to ensure we have enough AAW escorts.

Glass Half Full
Glass Half Full
2 years ago
Reply to  Peter S

“Whatever happened we are now stuck with 2 carriers we have insufficient aircraft for” – By mid-decade we will have 45 deployable F-35B, excluding the 3 in the US. That’s enough to deploy a significant air wing on our own. We never planned to deploy two full air wings on both carriers simultaneously. In a hot war from mid-decade on we could field 36 F-35B including a squadron of USMC. No other country including the US will field anything close to that in fifth gen aircraft on a single carrier in that time-frame or possibly even in this decade. The… Read more »

Dern
Dern
2 years ago
Reply to  Peter S

Opvs don’t carry SAMs or SSMs…

AlexS
AlexS
2 years ago
Reply to  Peter S

I disagree Peter, if Type 45 team can’t do a good job it is not Carrier team fault.

Robert Blay.
Robert Blay.
2 years ago
Reply to  Peter S

For the 10th million time. We have never planned to own and operate two carrier airwings. two carriers means one is available to deploy 365 day’s a year to fit around maintenance and refits.

Supportive Bloke
Supportive Bloke
2 years ago
Reply to  Robert Blay.

Quite

Peter S
Peter S
2 years ago
Reply to  Robert Blay.

You are completely wrong. The plan in 2008 when the purchase order was made was to have 2 fully operational carriers to replace the 3 Invincible class. The plan included a published intention to buy 138 F35s, imitating the joint force Harrier idea and replacing both Harrier and Tornado. Soon after, the financial crisis struck. The build of the carriers was slowed down by Brown leading to higher costs. Cameron wanted to cancel the second carrier and found he couldn’t. The costs of acquiring and running F35 were rising steeply. So the new spin was that we had never intended… Read more »

Robert Blay
Robert Blay
2 years ago
Reply to  Peter S

Even though everything you say is true, It simply was never the intention to be able to deploy two full carrier airwings, that would be 72 F35’s to deploy, plus over 20 helicopters on the carrier’s alone. We were never going to have the manning to do it, especially pilots and engineers. Today we can have both carrier’s operational when refit and maintenance periods allow, allowing one carrier to be held at R2 status (48hrs to deploy if memory serves me correctly)365 day a year, with the 2nd carrier able to take part in traning and exercises with a limited… Read more »

Peter S
Peter S
2 years ago
Reply to  Robert Blay

I’m happy you agree that everything I said is true. I did recheck the details before posting. Even the 2015 SDR included a purchase of 138 F 35s. Remember these were not just to equip the carriers but also replace the RAFs Tornado fleet. So pilot numbers would not have been a major constraint. The total would have allowed both carriers to operate 36 at surge. What has changed? Firstly the operating costs of F35 are much higher than forecast ( the USAF continue to complain about this and the consequent need to use them less intensively). Second, we have… Read more »

Robert Blay
Robert Blay
2 years ago
Reply to  Peter S

F35 was never intended to be a Tornado replacement, and still isn’t. Typhoon took over the Tornado GR role. Most of the Tornado pilots converted to Typhoon or F35, and we are still short on numbers, as the Tornado force shrunk over many year’s. I served in Joint Force Harrier at RAF Cottesmore. And the plan was always for 4 frontline F35 sqn’s with 12 aircraft each, so we could in theory deploy 36 jets on one carrier with the fourth sqn held In reserve, or land based. Never was it planned to massively increase the fleet air arm or… Read more »

Paul T
Paul T
2 years ago

Surely with HMS Diamond suffering problems I hope the Naval Top Brass have plans to put another 45 to Sea ASAP.

Robert Blay.
Robert Blay.
2 years ago
Reply to  Paul T

Why? we are not at war. Vessels break down, this stuff happens, and available Vessels will already having tasking and exercises planned months ago.

Paul T
Paul T
2 years ago
Reply to  Robert Blay.

Obviously we are not at War but having 1 from 6 available might mean getting another one ready just in case it has to cover any emergency, there’s nothing wrong with having a degree of Insurance.

Robert Blay
Robert Blay
2 years ago
Reply to  Paul T

We could get some of these vessels to sea In a surprisingly short period if needs must. But if it’s not necessary, we don’t, because it only causes delays further down the line.

AlexS
AlexS
2 years ago
Reply to  Robert Blay.

No this stuff is not normal.
Change them.

Robert Blay
Robert Blay
2 years ago
Reply to  AlexS

It’s perfectly normal. Keeping complex warships ready to deploy is a very complicated business. These vessels will all be penned in for future deployments and exercises. And to have them available, they need maintenance and refits.

Robert Blay
Robert Blay
2 years ago
Reply to  AlexS

So we should get rid of the worlds most capable air defence destroyer? Ridiculous comment.

AlexS
AlexS
2 years ago
Reply to  Robert Blay

I see you don’t even know what should be expected of warship availability…
Tell me should RN get 12 aircraft carriers to have 2 available?

We will also see many times the 2 carriers will crap out in middle of a mission…if that is “so normal”…?

Change. In changing the schedule that you imply is sacred in your “ridiculous” post.

Robert Blay
Robert Blay
2 years ago
Reply to  AlexS

You haven’t a clue pal. Vessels break down, these things happen, and happen to all Navy’s. I have been on RN Vessels myself when something goes wrong, it’s a complex business keeping highly capable warships available.

AlexS
AlexS
2 years ago
Reply to  Robert Blay

Commons Defence Committee chairman Tobias Ellwood suggested the situation was “operationally unacceptable”.

Robert Blay
Robert Blay
2 years ago
Reply to  AlexS

And Tobias Ellwood should know better making such comments. HMS Diamond will be back with CSG21 soon enough.

Airborne
Airborne
2 years ago
Reply to  AlexS

Oh dear Alex, I’m not RN but even I’m aware that the T45 is currently one of the best AAW hulls afloat. 6 isnt enough nope, but that’s where we are. Stuff breaks, it gets fixed, crack on. As we aren’t at war why send a warship on deployment when not fully operational and safe to operate? If we transited to war, I pretty much guarantee 4 of the T45s will be made seaworthy, albeit with limitations in certain areas (it’s called the military, it’s what we do, mitigate weakness and maximise strengths). But when reading your posts your total… Read more »

AlexS
AlexS
2 years ago
Reply to  Airborne

The capacity here for self illusion is telling.

AlexS
AlexS
2 years ago
Reply to  AlexS

This atitude explain British Leyland…

Airborne
Airborne
2 years ago
Reply to  AlexS

You’ve replied to yourself….oh dear.

Airborne
Airborne
2 years ago
Reply to  AlexS

Oh dear, your reply confirms your limited subject matter knowledge, thank you as it saves time in replying to your future incorrect assessments.

Robert Blay
Robert Blay
2 years ago
Reply to  Airborne

Well said mate 👍

dan
dan
2 years ago
Reply to  Robert Blay

Most capable at what? Good sensors but limited magazine especially for long range defense and no missiles for China’s anti ship ballistic missile. Not to mention for anti ship or land attack missiles.

Robert Blay
Robert Blay
2 years ago
Reply to  dan

T45 is currently the worlds most capable air defence destroyer. And is going to get even better with another 24 Sea Captors added to it’s load out. That’s 72 missiles. USN destroyers still fire semi active missiles. They carry more, because more will miss the target.

AlexS
AlexS
2 years ago
Reply to  Robert Blay

“T45 is currently the worlds most capable air defence destroyer.”

Evidence of that would only have occurred in a war.
But it is irrelevant if they are not even able to escort the carrier

AlexS
AlexS
2 years ago
Reply to  AlexS

And this issue with T45 also show the mistake of T26(RN version) not have area defence capability.
That RAN RCN Type 26 and Usn FREMM will have and Italian FREMM have.

Robert Blay
Robert Blay
2 years ago
Reply to  AlexS

14 years of multi national exercises and deployments have proven it’s capability. You don’t have to be at war to demonstrate how capable a certain asset would be for real.

AlexS
AlexS
2 years ago
Reply to  Robert Blay

Multi national exercise don’t give you much knowledge of enemy capabilities.
And even seeing incompletness of the exercises is dubious that you know yourself well enough

What destroyer(friend or enemy) fired the whole complement of AAW missiles in say 5 minutes, 40 missile in 5 minutes?
What percentage AAW missile fail to launch or drop in own ship due to malfunction? 1 in 100 1 in 1000?
What happen if it is in heavy seas?

Robert Blay
Robert Blay
2 years ago
Reply to  AlexS

You are not from our neck of the woods are you AlexS

Northco
Northco
2 years ago
Reply to  Robert Blay

Actually the USN is switching over to active missiles and the new Burke III have all new radar

Robert Blay
Robert Blay
2 years ago
Reply to  Northco

👍

Airborne
Airborne
2 years ago
Reply to  AlexS

Let me assure you things breaking is absolutely normal.

Colin McCourt
Colin McCourt
2 years ago

This is not news. It’s been like this from their inception. Some are normally classed as deep maintenance due to the Navy not being able to crew them all.

Daniele Mandelli
Daniele Mandelli
2 years ago

It can be spun any way one wishes.

The cancellation of Ships 7 and 8 to bring forward money on T26, a programme itself then reduced from 13 to 8, is the bigger pain.

Glass Half Full
Glass Half Full
2 years ago

What seems to often be missing is context. In the 1990’s and the first decade of this century, when many of the decisions were made behind where we are today, the concept of a conventional peer conflict had largely receded, to be replaced with peace keeping, countering terrorists/insurgencies and containing rogue states. The USSR was no more, Russia was struggling economically and the hope/expectation was that China would integrate into the world economy and adopt more reasonable norms. This view was reinforced with the return of Hong Kong to a one country two systems stated approach, along with situations like… Read more »

Robert Blay
Robert Blay
2 years ago

Excellent explanation. Spot on. 👍

Daniele Mandelli
Daniele Mandelli
2 years ago
Reply to  Robert Blay

Yep, GHF usually has the answers.

Paul C
Paul C
2 years ago

Totally correct. The situation now is very different to the one that existed when the 1998 SDR was conducted and for a decade after that. The mindset that existed then was basically peer threats have more or less evaporated for as far ahead as it is possible to see and the future is global interventionism in its many and varied forms. And this indeed seemed to be the case . . . for a while at least. Anyone suggesting then that Russia or China might pose a serious security challenge in the not too distant future was either politely dismissed… Read more »

2e
2e
2 years ago

Was replacing the WR21s, with MT30s for example, not an option instead of replacing the 2 Wartsila diesels with 3 MTU diesels?

Paul T
Paul T
2 years ago
Reply to  2e

Compared to swapping the GT’s replacing the Diesel Sets was the much cheaper (simpler) option.

Robert Blay.
Robert Blay.
2 years ago

Are these stories published just to stair up angry debate. We have had 6 T45’s for a long time now and maintenance and refit cycles are nothing new. Overall, the RN does a fantastic job with vessel availability. Just look at the deployment schedule so far this year. Nothing is ’embarrassing’ or ‘appalling ‘it’s just the reality if maintaining highly sophisticated and capable warships.

Airborne
Airborne
2 years ago
Reply to  Robert Blay.

Spot on mate, over the last 2-3 years the RN has made sure its assets are planned and available as best it can, and completed just about every task required of it. With the minimum amount of kit, the RN has showed its capabilities in every aspect of warfare. They are currently leading the way in regard to having their shit together in the UK military.

Daniele Mandelli
Daniele Mandelli
2 years ago
Reply to  Robert Blay.

Bravo.

Always with the negative waves, so many on this site. ( says Oddball )

T45 is probably weeks away from having 4 available. Diamond was unforseen but hey ho.

Robert Blay
Robert Blay
2 years ago

Fleet numbers do go up and down. It’s just how it is. Even if we did have 10-12 T45’s, We wouldn’t have any sat in Portsmouth ready to deploy incase one breaks down. They would all be tasked or already on Operations, or in refit Hope you are keeping well mate.👍

Glass Half Full
Glass Half Full
2 years ago
Reply to  Robert Blay.

I sometimes wonder the same. But to be fair UKDJ is mostly a news reporting site that largely just repeats whatever is in the source material. What it lacks is context, such as Gunbuster’s comments previously regarding hours notice to put to sea, or your own and others comments on the norms of maintaining and operating a fleet. These articles also always fail to observe that we have allies, who we routinely work with and rely on, especially within NATO. Dependable allies are far more important than having a few extra ships.

Robert Blay
Robert Blay
2 years ago

Exactly pal. It’s a shame so many take these stories to heart and take them completely out of context compared to real world operations and availability 👍

Sean
Sean
2 years ago
Reply to  Robert Blay.

To answer your first question, “yes”.

Plus we seem to have a few trolls and possible stooges from the Internet Research Agency putting the boot in too.

AlexS
AlexS
2 years ago

Video of HMS Diamond entering Taranto, passing the rotating bridge

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQbLsrDtnFs

Gunbuster
Gunbuster
2 years ago
Reply to  AlexS

Which it did under its own power. So if push came to shove , it could sail with one GT not 2 available for use.
As nobody is doing any shoving, its getting its one duff engine fixed so that it has full operational capability available.

AlexS
AlexS
2 years ago
Reply to  Gunbuster

It was known it was moving in own power, just slow.

Gunbuster
Gunbuster
2 years ago
Reply to  AlexS

It can easily move at full speed with all systems running on one engine if it needs to with the DGs as extra load back up.
Its not moving slowly because it only has one GTAlt but because its entering harbour

Geoffi
Geoffi
2 years ago

So, only one operational. Wow. A new low…

PaulW
PaulW
2 years ago

Don’t the RN operate a 2/3rd active, 1/3rd reserve rule? So 2 ships should be laid up anyway. The other 4 ships should be available within 48 hours (ish) with at least 2 ships at immediate readiness. The stats given here suggest 50% availability against the required target. This then suggests the RN have half the number of ships needed. Did I miss anything?

AlexS
AlexS
2 years ago
Reply to  PaulW

T45 have a problematic propulsion system. Until that is changed expect this to continue. HMS Duncan is the first ship being fixed, it was supposed to last 6 months but it is already 14… so even the fix is not going accordingly to plan.

AlexS
AlexS
2 years ago
Reply to  AlexS

My mistake, HMS Dauntless is the ship doing the first propulsion change.

Sean
Sean
2 years ago
Reply to  AlexS

Reading your past posts it’s not your only mistake…

AlexS
AlexS
2 years ago
Reply to  Sean

That tells more about you than about me.

Robert Blay
Robert Blay
2 years ago
Reply to  Sean

👍

Sk
Sk
2 years ago

Mmm best of British disgrace this should never ever happend

Robert Blay
Robert Blay
2 years ago
Reply to  Sk

Disgrace because vessels need refits so they are available for future deployments.🤦‍♂️ Don’t be ridiculous.

Andrew D
Andrew D
2 years ago

Seeing mixed reports on HMS Daring over the month’s ,did read she was Replacing HMS Bristol in training role,which I found hard to unstand .Do hope it’s truth she’s coming back into service sad to have Type 45 Destroyer sitting in port,when RN short on Escorts 🇬🇧

dan
dan
2 years ago

So the RN only has 1 Destroyer capable of operational service right now???? That is a disgrace. What happens if hostilities break out with Iran, Russia or China, ect? Damn lucky they have America and a few other allies to help.

Andrew D
Andrew D
2 years ago
Reply to  dan

How did it ever get to this 🙄

Robert Blay
Robert Blay
2 years ago
Reply to  Andrew D

A comment like that just shows how little some people understand about maintenence and refits, and vessel availability. Look beyond the cheap headlines, and take some time to understand how we keep highly complex warships operational. If you wasn’t interested in defence, you wouldn’t be on this site, so know harm in learning something new. Please see Gunbusters and others comments for a more detailed explanation. 👍

Robert Blay
Robert Blay
2 years ago
Reply to  dan

Read the posts from people with some common sense and knowledge on the subject matter, and you will realise nothing is a disgrace, and war isn’t going to breakout overnight with China, Russia or Iran.

d pattinson
d pattinson
2 years ago

I’m sure the public would like to know which bureaucrat gave these defective engines the go ahead. They have made us a laughing stock again in the world, For the want of a decent horse shoe nail the war was lost, or words to that effect. Maybe they should use Calgon in every wash, it works on washing machines. I suppose in government terms 1 out of 6 ain’t bad.

Gunbuster
Gunbuster
2 years ago

Right…a bit long winded but hopefully this explains things to people who cannot grasp the consent of operational capability(OC) If you have a defect on an RN vessel you raise an OPDEF signal. It details the defect down to component level , what you need to do to fix it, spares requirements, external support and the famous line 5, the effect the defect has on Operational Capability of the vessel. Note the word vessel… It doesn’t say system… Its says vessel.As she is also part of a task group, her task group job will also form part of this statement.… Read more »

Robert Blay
Robert Blay
2 years ago
Reply to  Gunbuster

Very well explained pal 👍

Daniele Mandelli
Daniele Mandelli
2 years ago
Reply to  Robert Blay

Cue silence from the trolls and naysayers desperate for any bad news to shout about from the rooftops.

Robert Blay
Robert Blay
2 years ago

And we have plenty of them on this site. Some have already forgot the 500M announced for T45 weapons upgrade, and the funding line for the remaining T26’s.

Daniele Mandelli
Daniele Mandelli
2 years ago
Reply to  Robert Blay

I suspect, reading their use of written English, that some may be foreigners fancying a spot of Brit bashing from the anonymity of their PC screens, or even bots designed to stir the hornets nest.

Interestingly, looking at the unrelated tweets which attacked our lads who missed their pens because of their colour, seems many cam from oversees accounts deleted within minutes. All deliberate.

Robert Blay
Robert Blay
2 years ago

Yes, it didn’t seem to be widely shared by our press that most of the tweets came from abroad. We do have racist problems. But overall, we are one of the most open, accepting and respectful of societies. But we are not allowed to say that.

David Steeper
2 years ago
Reply to  Robert Blay

Out of over 100 only 5 came from within the UK.

Daniele Mandelli
Daniele Mandelli
2 years ago
Reply to  David Steeper

Is that so, didn’t know the exact figure.

After the hullabaloo I doubt that was welcome news, didn’t fit the “agenda “

Airborne
Airborne
2 years ago

Pretty much spot on mate, overseas accounts playing silly buggers. Goes to show the information war is 24/7!

LongTime
LongTime
2 years ago
Reply to  Gunbuster

Thanks GB hopefully it’ll save Mr Blays fingers from having to explain to 1/2 the commentators

Robert Blay
Robert Blay
2 years ago
Reply to  LongTime

😆 He does it much better than me anyway. I’ve forgotten most of what I learned in the RN. 😄

Gunbuster
Gunbuster
2 years ago
Reply to  Robert Blay

I no longer write OPDEFS thank god!

I just get paid to fix them.

Robert Blay
Robert Blay
2 years ago
Reply to  Gunbuster

You have encyclopedic knowledge! Good job you are still interested in sharing some of it on this site. God help us if you didn’t. Take care pal.

Peter S
Peter S
2 years ago
Reply to  Gunbuster

So bearing your excellent points in mind and recognising the increased maintenance burden of ever more sophisticated systems, it is not unreasonable to conclude that having just 6 AAW destroyers is cutting things fine.

Gunbuster
Gunbuster
2 years ago
Reply to  Peter S

Having 5 plus a spares package or 6 and no spares package which is what the RN finally had to agree to was always going to be an issue. Things like the recouperator core issues haven’t helped. The RN has done wonders managing the limited numbers it has and prior to CSG 21. it spent years re jigging programs and plans to ensure that ships and maintenance was sorted out to ensure 2 plus 2 are going to be available for the carrier /Amphib groups. Its not quite there yet but once PIP completes it should be. For complex or… Read more »

Airborne
Airborne
2 years ago
Reply to  Gunbuster

And once again GB shoots and scores, we have trolls down, trolls down, we’ve got trolls down in the website…..

Ian M
Ian M
2 years ago
Reply to  Gunbuster

The voice of reason, experience and above all, first hand knowledge. Cheers GB

Jacko
Jacko
2 years ago

Perhaps a more balanced view here rather than the handwringing that’s been going on.

https://thinpinstripedline.blogspot.com/2021/07/5-out-of-6-aint-bad-why-type-45.html

Gunbuster
Gunbuster
2 years ago
Reply to  Jacko

I do like Sir Humphrey… As a former Staff Officer he does explain stuff far more eloquently than I, as a bluff and gruff former WO can!

Robert Blay
Robert Blay
2 years ago
Reply to  Gunbuster

I like him too. He writes some excellent and balanced articles.

Tom Keane
Tom Keane
2 years ago

Personally I think it would be a very interesting ‘project’, to see how much bean counters and the procurement process for the Royal Navy warships, has cost the country. With ‘f’ up’s, overspends and cheaper equipment options, I’d personally hate to estimate the cost of these failures.

Unfortunately though, such an ‘exercise’ would not make a jot of difference to those involved in these processes.

George Parker
George Parker
2 years ago

Should have called the Type 45 the Unreliable Class. Yet another good reason to double the surface fleet.

Stuart Hully
Stuart Hully
2 years ago

Two active aircraft carriers and only one type 45 to support them? How can we have a continuous at sea carrier group if we can’t protect them? Yes, I know we will use other nations ships to support a carrier strike group but the state of readiness of type 45’s is a major concern.