 HMSBirmingham | |
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Name | Type 42 |
| Builders | Vickers, Cammell-Laird, Swan Hunter, Vosper Thorneycroft, CFNE Argentina |
| Operators |
|
| Preceded by | |
| Succeeded by |
|
| Subclasses | Batches 1, 2 and 3 |
| In service | 1975–2013 |
| Completed | 16 |
| Lost | UK: 2 (Falklands War) |
| Retired | 14 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Guided-missile destroyer |
| Displacement | |
| Length | |
| Beam | |
| Draught | |
| Decks | 8 |
| Installed power | 50,000 shp (37 MW) |
| Propulsion |
|
| Speed |
|
| Range | 4,200 nmi (7,800 km; 4,800 mi) single Tyne RM1C/other shaft trailing at 13.8 kn (25.6 km/h; 15.9 mph) |
| Complement | |
| Sensors & processing systems | |
| Electronic warfare & decoys |
|
| Armament |
|
| Aircraft carried |
|
| Aviation facilities | Flight deck and enclosedhangar for embarking one helicopter |
TheType 42 orSheffield class was developed to provide the Royal Navy with a cost-effective, medium-sized guided-missile destroyer focused on fleet air defence. Conceived in the late 1960s after the cancellation of the more complex and expensiveType 82, the Type 42 was intended to protect naval task groups against airborne threats using the Sea Dart missile system.[4]
While the smaller design allowed for more ships to be built within budget constraints, it imposed compromises in endurance, sea-keeping, and space for future weapons or sensor upgrades.[5] Over its 38 years of service, the class underwent three production batches that addressed some of the class's limitations by lengthening the hull, improving radar and missile systems, and addingclose-in weapon systems.[4]
Two vessels,HMS Sheffield (D80) andHMS Coventry (D118), were lost in the 1982Falklands War, prompting further modifications including enhanced damage control measures, updated electronic warfare suites and changes to material used in the ships' furnishings.[5] The class served as the backbone of Royal Navy air defence and demonstrated a trade-off between affordability and capability reflecting broader Royal Navy strategic priorities during the Cold War and post-Cold War periods, concluding in 2013 when they were replaced by the more capableType 45 destroyer.[4]
In addition to British service, two Type 42s were built for theArgentine Navy. These two ships saw limited service, few upgrades and were eventually retired.[6]
Following the cancellation of the Type 82 air-defence destroyers and the proposedCVA-01 aircraft carrier by theLabour Government in 1966, the Type 42 was conceived as a lighter, cheaper alternative with similar capabilities. The class was fitted with the GWS30Sea Dartsurface-to-air missile, first deployed on the sole Type 82 destroyer,HMS Bristol (D23).[7] The ships also had aflight deck and hangar to operate ananti-submarine warfare helicopter, increasing their versatility compared to the Type 82, which had a flight deck but no hangar.[8]
Designed in the late 1960s to provide fleet air defence, fourteen vessels were constructed in three distinct batches. In addition to the Royal Navy ships, two were built to a Batch 1 specifications for theArgentine Navy. ARAARA Hércules (B-52) was built in theVickers Shipbuilding yard inBarrow-in-Furness,United Kingdom, and delivered August 1976. ARAARA Santísima Trinidad (1974) was built at the AFNERío Santiago Shipyard inBuenos Aires and commissioned in July 1981.[9]
The class was budgeted at £19 million per hull but exceeded that limit and the original design proposal was £21 million. To cut costs, the first two batches had 47 feet removed from the bow forward of the bridge, reducing thebeam-to-length ratio. These early Batch 1 ships performed poorly during sea trials in heavy weather, prompting a review.[10] Batch 2 ships, beginning withHMS Exeter (D89), incorporated improved sensors and minor layout changes. The ninth hull,HMS Manchester (D95), was lengthened during construction, resulting in better seakeeping, and follow-on ships were built to this standard. Strengthening girders were added to the weather decks of Batch 1 and 2 ships, while Batch 3 vessels were built with an externalstrake to counter longitudinal cracking.[11]
HMS Sheffield (D80) andHMS Coventry (D118) were both sunk in theFalklands War.[12] This was the first conflict sinceWorld War II in which surface warships of the same design served on opposing sides. Although there was no direct contact between the ships, bothSantísima Trinidad andHércules locked on toSea Harrier, XZ451 piloted by Flt Lt Mortimer, with their Type 909 fire-control radars on the 1 May 1982, Mortimer retreated.[13][14]
The final ship of the class,HMS Edinburgh (D97), was decommissioned on 6 June 2013.[15]Hércules remained in service in a transport and amphibious role and was declared non-operational in 2020 and formally decommissioned in 2024, whileSantísima Trinidad sank at her berth at thePort Belgrano Naval Base in January 2013, she was in poor condition before sinking, having been cannibalised to keepHércules operational.[16]
The first batch was fitted with theType 965 or Type 966 surveillance radar, both of which had a slow data rate.[17] The Type 992Q radar, used for target designation for the gun and missile systems, lacked Moving Target Indication (MTI). Although British radar manufacturers offered to retrofit MTI, the modification was never carried out.[17] Without MTI, the Type 992Q experienced difficulty in tracking aircraft when they were in front of land, or during snow or rain showers.[17] In addition, the class had insufficient space for an efficient operations room.[17]
The class was armed with a single4.5 inch Mark 8 naval gun, and earlier vessels carried six Ships Torpedo Weapon System (STWS)torpedo launchers. The ArgentineSantísima Trinidad was equipped with the MM38 Exocet for a broader anti-ship capability. Theboat decks of the original design were replaced by special decks to install the missiles around the funnel. While this modification applied to both ARA ships, the launchers were never mounted onSantísima Trinidad.[18]
There were three production batches. Batch 1 and Batch 2 ships displaced 4,820 tonnes, while Batch 3 (sometimes referred to as theManchester class) displaced 5,200 tonnes. The Batch 3 ships were heavily upgraded, incorporating lessons from the Falklands War, although theSea Wolf missile system was never fitted. TwoPhalanxclose-in weapon systems were mounted amidships to all surviving batches.[19]
The electronics suite comprised either a Type 1022D band long-range radar with Outfit LFB track extractor, or aType 965P long-range air surveillance radar; one Type 996E band/F band3D radar for target indication with Outfit LFA track extractor, or a Type 992Q surface-search radar; two Type 909 I/J-bandfire-control radars; and an Outfit LFD radar track combiner.[citation needed]
All ships were powered byRolls-Royce TM3B Olympus andRolls-Royce RM1C Tyne marinised gas turbines, in a COGOG (combined gas or gas) arrangement, driving through synchronous self-shifting clutches into a double-reduction, dual-tandem, articulated, locked-train gear system, and then to two five-bladedcontrollable pitch propellers. Electrical power was supplied by fourPaxman Ventura 16YJCAZdiesel generators, each producing 1 MW ofthree-phase electric power at 440 V, 60 Hz.[citation needed]
The lead ship,HMS Sheffield (D80), was initially fitted with exhaust deflectors on her funnel tops to direct high-temperature exhaust gases sideways, reducing heat damage to overhead aerials. This created a prominent target forinfrared homing missiles, so onlySheffield and the two Argentine ships, and , retained this feature. Subsequent ships were built with 'cheese grater' uptakes, which mixed machinery space ventilation air with the exhaust gases to reduceinfrared signatures.[citation needed]
In February 1998, the Minister of State for Defence,Dr John Reid, stated: "Type 42 destroyers achieved approximately 84 to 86 per cent average availability for operational service in each of the last five years. This discounts time spent in planned maintenance."[20]
The Type 42 class was designed to counter long-range strategic bombers from the former Soviet Long-Range Aviation andSoviet Naval Aviation (AV-MF), and to provide area defence for acarrier battle group.
Five ships took part in the Falklands War:Sheffield,Coventry,Glasgow,Exeter andCardiff.[21] providing long-range air defence and achieving seven confirmed "kills". Coventry was credited with three aircraft: aPuma SA.330L and twoA-4 Skyhawks.[22] Exeter shot down four aircraft: two A-4 Skyhawks, aLearjet 35A and aCanberra bomber.[22]Cardiff was involved in afriendly fire incident resulting in theloss of a British Gazelle helicopter.[22]
Sheffield was hit by anExocetair-to-surface missile launched by an ArgentineSuper Étendard on 4 May 1982 and sank six days later;Coventry was sunk by 3, 250 kgunguided bombs on the 25 May 1982, with two detonating.[23] andGlasgow was disabled by a bomb that passed through her aft engine room without exploding, damaging fuel systems and disabling thecruising engines. These losses led to a reassessment to subsequent vessels.[22]
On February 25, 1991, duringOperation Desert Storm,Gloucester shot down an IraqiSilkworm missile targetingUSSMissouri.[24]
Type 42s performed fleet contingency duties, including West Indies counter-drug operations, Falkland Islands patrols, NATO Mediterranean and Atlantic task group deployments, and Persian Gulf patrols. The increased deployment of Type 23 frigates in place of Type 42s to high-intensity operational areas reflected persistent serviceability and reliability problems, alongside growing obsolescence of their combat and machinery systems.[25]
| Pennant | Name | Hull builder[26] | Ordered[26] | Laid down[26] | Launched[26] | Accepted into service[26][27][Note 1] | Commissioned | Estimated building cost[Note 2] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Royal Navy – batch 1 | ||||||||
| D80 | Sheffield | Vickers Shipbuilders Ltd, Barrow-in-Furness. | 14 November 1968 | 15 January 1970 | 10 June 1971 | 16 February 1975 | 16 February 1975[28][Note 3] | £23,200,000[29] |
| D86 | Birmingham | Cammell Laird & Co, Birkenhead. | 21 May 1971 | 28 March 1972 | 30 July 1973 | 26 November 1976[30] | 3 December 1976[28] | £31,000,000[31] |
| D87 | Newcastle | Swan Hunter Ltd, Wallsend-on-Tyne. | 11 November 1971 | 21 February 1973 | 24 April 1975 | 25 February 1978 | 23 March 1978[28] | £34,600,000[27] |
| D118 | Coventry | Cammell Laird & Co, Birkenhead. | 21 May 1971 | 29 January 1973 | 21 June 1974 | 20 October 1978 | 10 November 1978[28] | £37,900,000[27][32] |
| D88 | Glasgow | Swan Hunter Ltd, Wallsend-on-Tyne. | 11 November 1971 | 16 April 1974 | 14 April 1976 | 9 March 1979 | 24 May 1979[28] | £36,900,000[27][32] |
| D108 | Cardiff | Vickers Shipbuilders Ltd, Barrow-in-Furness (to launching stage) Swan Hunter Ltd, Hebburn (for completion).[32] | 10 June 1971 | 6 November 1972 | 22 February 1974 | 22 September 1979 | 24 September 1979[28] | £40,500,000[33][Note 4] |
| Royal Navy – batch 2 | ||||||||
| D89 | Exeter | Swan Hunter Ltd, Wallsend-on-Tyne. | 22 January 1976 | 22 July 1976 | 25 April 1978 | 30 August 1980 | 19 September 1980[28] | £60,100,000[27][32] |
| D90 | Southampton | Vosper Thornycroft Ltd, Woolston. | 17 March 1976 | 21 October 1976 | 29 January 1979 | 17 August 1981 | 31 October 1981[28] | £67,500,000[27] |
| D92 | Liverpool | Cammell Laird & Co, Birkenhead. | 27 May 1977 | 5 July 1978 | 25 September 1980 | 12 May 1982 | 1 July 1982[28] | £92,800,000[27] |
| D91 | Nottingham | Vosper Thornycroft Ltd, Woolston. | 1 March 1977 | 6 February 1978 | 18 February 1980 | 22 December 1982 | 14 April 1983[28] | £82,100,000[27] |
| Royal Navy – batch 3 | ||||||||
| D95 | Manchester | Vickers Shipbuilders Ltd, Barrow-in-Furness. | 10 November 1978 | 19 May 1978 | 24 November 1980 | 19 November 1982 | 16 December 1982[28] | £110,000,000[27] |
| D98 | York | Swan Hunter Ltd, Wallsend-on-Tyne. | 25 April 1979 | 18 January 1980 | 21 June 1982 | 25 March 1985[34] | 9 August 1985 | £118,700,000[34] |
| D96 | Gloucester | Vosper Thornycroft Ltd, Woolston. | 27 March 1979 | 29 October 1979 | 2 November 1982 | 16 May 1985[34] | 11 September 1985 | £120,800,000[34] |
| D97 | Edinburgh | Cammell Laird & Co, Birkenhead. | 25 April 1979 | 8 September 1980 | 13 April 1983 | 25 July 1985[34] | 17 December 1985 | £130,600,000[34] |
| Argentine Republic Navy– batch 1 | ||||||||
| D1 | Hércules | Vickers Shipbuilders Ltd, Barrow-in-Furness. | 18 May 1970 | 16 June 1971 | 24 October 1972 | 10 May 1976[26] | 12 July 1976[26] | |
| D2 | Santísima Trinidad | AFNE, Rio Santiago, Argentina. | 18 May 1970 | 11 October 1971 | 9 November 1974 | 1 July 1981 | ||
In May 1982, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Jerry Wiggin) stated that the current replacement cost of a Type 42 destroyer of theSheffield class was "about £120 million."[35] In July 1984, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State(John Lee) stated: "the average cost of the three Type 42 destroyers currently under construction is £117 million at 1983–84 price levels."[36]
| Date | Running cost | What is included | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981–82 | £10.0 million | Average annual running cost of Type 42s at average 1981–82 prices and including associated aircraft costs but excluding the costs of major refits. | [37] |
| 1985–86 | £15 million | The average cost of running and maintaining a type 42 destroyer for one year. | [38] |
| 1987–88 | £7 million | The average annual operating costs, at financial year 1987–88 prices of a type 42 destroyer. These costs include personnel, fuel, spares, and so on, and administrative support services, but exclude new construction, capital equipment, and refit-repair costs. | [39] |
| 2001–02 | £13.0 million | Type 42 destroyer, average annual operating costs, based on historic costs over each full financial year. The figures include manpower, maintenance, fuel, stores, and other costs (such as harbour dues), but exclude depreciation and cost of capital. | [40] |
| 2002–03 | £13.5 million |
| Date | Running cost | What is included | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007–08 | £31.35 million | "The annual operating cost of the Type 42 Class of Destroyers, covering a total of eight vessels in the 07/08 period, is £250.8M." "This is based on information primarily from Financial Year 07/08 the last year for which this information is available, and includes typical day-to-day costs such as fuel and manpower and general support costs covering maintenance, repair and equipment spares. Costs for equipment spares are also included, although these are based on Financial Year 08/09 information as this is the most recent information available. Costs for weapon system support are not included as they could only be provided at disproportionate cost." | [41] |
| 2009–10 | £26.7 million | "The average running cost per class... Type 42 is £160.1 million. These figures, based on the expenditure incurred by the Ministry of Defence in 2009–10, include maintenance, safety certification, military upgrades, manpower, inventory, satellite communication, fuel costs, and depreciation.". | [42] |
In May 2000, theMinister of State for the Armed Forces (John Spellar) stated: "The running costs of each of the Royal Navy's Type 42 destroyers for each of the past five years are contained in the following table. This includes repair and maintenance, manpower, fuel, and other costs such as port and harbour dues. Year-on-year variations are largely attributable to refit periods."[43]
| Ship | 1995–96 | 1996–97 | 1997–98 | 1998–99 | 1999–2000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham | £32.28 million | £16.92 million | £17.38 million | £13.38 million | £10.39 million |
| Newcastle | £32.60 million | £31.60 million | £18.57 million | £13.90 million | £13.73 million |
| Glasgow | £14.70 million | £29.47 million | £26.36 million | £13.61 million | £12.65 million |
| Cardiff | £19.86 million | £41.2 million | £28.86 million | £13.20 million | £17.87 million |
| Exeter | £19.46 million | £15.72 million | £40.83 million | £12.76 million | £14.48 million |
| Southampton | £16.53 million | £20.37 million | £17.91 million | £39.09 million | £18.79 million |
| Nottingham | £18.70 million | £17.24 million | £19.08 million | £13.08 million | £32.74 million |
| Liverpool | £16.92 million | £20.75 million | £14.59 million | £14.79 million | £14.63 million |
| Manchester | £17.99 million | £19.40 million | £14.58 million | £12.22 million | £12.69 million |
| Gloucester | £19.33 million | £19.40 million | £13.89 million | £21.49 million | £15.77 million |
| York | £20.48 million | £19.79 million | £17.50 million | £11.78 million | £21.88 million |
| Edinburgh | £35.27 million | £19.29 million | £22.50 million | £13.00 million | £12.28 million |
| Pennant | Name | Home port | Commissioned | Status | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Royal Navy | ||||||
| Batch 1 | ||||||
| D80 | Sheffield | Portsmouth | 16 February 1975 | Sunk inFalklands War 4 May 1982 | ||
| D86 | Birmingham | Portsmouth | 3 December 1976 | Decommissioned 31 December 1999 | Scrapped October 2000 | |
| D88 | Glasgow | Portsmouth | 25 May 1977 | Decommissioned 1 February 2005 | Scrapped December 2008 | |
| D87 | Newcastle | Portsmouth | 23 March 1978 | Decommissioned 1 February 2005 | Scrapped November 2008 | |
| D118 | Coventry | Portsmouth | 20 October 1978 | Sunk in Falklands War 25 May 1982 | ||
| D108 | Cardiff | Portsmouth | 24 September 1979 | Decommissioned 14 July 2005 | Scrapped November 2008 | |
| Batch 2 | ||||||
| D89 | Exeter | Portsmouth | 18 September 1980 | Decommissioned 27 May 2009 | Scrapped September 2011 | |
| D90 | Southampton | Portsmouth | 31 October 1981 | Decommissioned 12 February 2009[44] | Scrapped October 2011 | |
| D92 | Liverpool | Portsmouth | 9 July 1982 | Decommissioned 30 March 2012 | Scrapped October 2014 | |
| D91 | Nottingham | Portsmouth | 8 April 1983 | Decommissioned 11 February 2010 | Scrapped October 2011 | |
| Batch 3 | ||||||
| D95 | Manchester | Portsmouth | 16 December 1982 | Decommissioned 24 February 2011 | Scrapped November 2014 | |
| D98 | York | Portsmouth | 9 August 1985 | Decommissioned 27 September 2012[45] | Scrapped August 2015 | |
| D96 | Gloucester | Portsmouth | 11 September 1985 | Decommissioned 30 June 2011 | Scrapped September 2015 | |
| D97 | Edinburgh | Portsmouth | 17 December 1985 | Decommissioned 6 June 2013 | Scrapped August 2015 | |
| Navy of the Argentine Republic | ||||||
| B-52 (ex D-1) | Hércules | Puerto Belgrano | 12 July 1976 | Transformed in a multi-purpose transport ship since 2000.[46] As of 2020, reported non-operational.[47] Formally retired in 2024.[48] | ||
| D-2 | Santísima Trinidad | Puerto Belgrano | 1 July 1981 | Decommissioned in 2004. Intended to become a naval museum, but sank, as a result of negligence, off Puerto Belgrano on 22 January 2013.[49] She was refloated in December 2015 and moved to a drydock to evaluate her restoration as a museum ship.[50] But due to serious damage and lack of funds, she was destined to be scrapped in 2018.[51] | Undergoing for scrapping since 2018.[51] | |
The survivingArgentine Type 42,Hércules, was based atPuerto Belgrano Naval Base, Argentina, and converted into an amphibious command ship through the addition of a new aft superstructure and hangar. She was originally fitted with four single Exocet missile launchers, two on either side of the funnel facing forward but these were removed during refit. As of 2020,Hércules was reported to be non-operational.[47] The other Argentine vessel,Santísima Trinidad, capsized and sank alongside her berth at Puerto Belgrano on 22 January 2013, reportedly as a result of poor maintenance and negligence leading to a burst seawater main and catastrophic flooding.[49] She was formally taken out of service in 2024.[48]
Prior to her demise,Santísima Trinidad was extensivelycannibalised for spare parts for her more active sister ship. In December 2015, she was refloated and placed in drydock to evaluate the cost of restoration as a museum ship. Finally, due to the very high cost required, it was decided to scrap her in 2016.[51]
All the Royal Navy Type 42 ships are now decommissioned. Initially, the United Kingdom sought to procure replacements through collaboration with seven otherNATO nations under theNFR-90 project, and then with France and Italy via theHorizon CNGF programme. Both collaborative ventures failed, leading to the national Type 45 project.[52] SixType 45 destroyers,Daring,Dauntless,Diamond,Dragon,Defender andDuncan, are all in commission and are considerably larger, displacing 7,500 tonnes compared to the Type 42's 3,600 tonnes.[52]
 Royal Navy | |
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 Argentine NavyHércules class | |
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