MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

RN super destroyer surpasses all expectations in trials

HMS Daring the first of six £1 billion destroyers for the Royal Navy

A Royal Navy warship built in Clyde shipyards and billed as the world's most advanced destroyer finished Thursday its first test run on the open sea. HMS Daring, the first in a batch of six destroyers ordered by the Royal Navy, has completed a month of sea trials and arrived at the town of Largs on the west coast.

The £1 billion ship, constructed in Glasgow and Portsmouth, sailed down the Clyde from Scotstoun shipyard on July 18. And the past month has not been an easy one, as more than 200 workmen toiled to steer the ship through challenging tests and tough conditions. The weather swung from dead calm to howling winds up to gale force six, and the tests focused mainly on getting the ship's propulsion systems up and running. She can go from zero to her top speed of 31 knots in a little over two minutes and come to a standstill in five-and-a-half ship lengths. Her advanced stealth technology also means when the 500ft ship is picked up on radar it appears as small as a fishing boat. "We have learned a tremendous amount," said Commander David Shutts, Daring's Senior Naval Officer. "She's not the finished product, but you can see where she's going. "What has surprised us most is her acceleration – 0 to 26 or 27 knots in little over a minute". Despite reaching those speeds, Daring used a fraction of the fuel which a Type 42 destroyer or Type 23 frigate would have devoured conducting the same trials. "This is without doubt the best first-of-class warship I have seen in my 44 years in shipbuilding," enthused Vic Emery, head of surface shipbuilding at BAE Systems which has built Daring jointly with the VT Group. "She moves like a Bentley or a Rolls." Ian Chambers, head of sea trials for BAE, added: "You get a sense of what she's going to be like while you're building her, but it's only at sea that it really hits you. She's absolutely awesome." Mr McLure also welcomed BAE's commitment to the city's shipyards. Six destroyers will be built in the yards, costing £6billion HMS Daring is now alongside at Scotstoun on the Clyde, where her sister HMS Dauntless is being fitted out. HMS Daring returns to sea next spring, followed by HMS Dauntless later in the year. Type 45 No.3, HMS Diamond, will be launched further up the Clyde at Govan this autumn. Six destroyers will be built in the Clyde yards, costing £6billion