Daring-class destroyer (1949)

Class overview
NameDaring class
Operators
Preceded byBattle class
Succeeded by
Built1949–1959
In commission1952–2007
Planned
  • 16 (RN)
  • 4 (RAN)
Completed
  • 8 (RN)
  • 3 (RAN)
Cancelled
  • 8 (RN)
  • 1 (RAN)
Lost1, Voyager
Preserved1, Vampire
General characteristics For RN vessels
TypeDestroyer
DisplacementStandard: 2,830 tons, Full load: 3,820 tons
Length390 ft (120 m)
Beam43 ft (13 m)
Draught12.75 ft (3.89 m)
Propulsion2 Foster Wheeler boilers 650 psi (4.5 MPa), 850 °F (454 °C), Parsons steam turbines (English Electric in RAN ships), 2 shafts, 54,000 shp (40 MW)
Speed30 knots (56 km/h; 35 mph)
Range4,400 nautical miles (8,100 km; 5,100 mi) at 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph)
Complement297
Sensors and
processing systems
  • Radar Type 293Q target indication
  • Radar Type 291 air warning
  • Radar Type 274 navigation
  • Radar Type 275 fire control on director Mk.VI
  • Radar Type 262 fire control on director CRBF and STAAG Mk.II
  • Radar Type 903 fire control on system MRS-3
Armament

The Daring class was a class of eleven destroyers built for the Royal Navy (RN) and Royal Australian Navy (RAN). Constructed after World War II, and entering service during the 1950s, eight ships were constructed for the RN, and three ships for the RAN. Two of the RN destroyers were subsequently sold to and served in the Peruvian Navy (MGP). A further eight ships were planned for the RN but were cancelled before construction commenced, while a fourth RAN vessel was begun but was cancelled before launch and broken up on the slipway.

The Daring-class ships were both the largest and most heavily armed ships serving in Commonwealth navies to be classified as destroyers. They were intended to fill some of the duties of cruisers, which post WW2 were considered both expensive and obsolete by naval planners, and were briefly officially considered a hybrid type (Darings) before being rated as destroyers. They were also the last destroyers of the RN and RAN to possess guns as their main armament (instead of guided missiles), which saw use during the Indonesian Confrontation and the Vietnam War.

The Daring-class destroyers were in service in the RN and RAN from the 1950s to the 1980s. Following decommissioning, two RN Darings were sold to Peru, which operated one ship until 1993 and the other until 2007. One ship of the class is preserved: HMAS Vampire as a museum ship at the Australian National Maritime Museum.