Diamond cuts the waves

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The Royal Navy's newest and most powerful Type 45 destroyer - Diamond - was launched today, Tuesday 27 November 2007, from BAE's shipyard at Govan, on the River Clyde.

Type 45 Diamond with Commander Paddy Munns who will be the senior Naval Officer responsible for Diamond
[Picture: Andrew Linnett]

Thousands of local people turned out for the launch, including many local schoolchildren. The Type 45 destroyers are the larger and more powerful replacement for the existing Type 42s. The destroyer will carry the world-leading PAAMS system (Principal Anti-Air Missile System) which is capable of defending a Type 45 and ships in its company from multiple attacks by the most sophisticated anti-ship missiles.

Baroness Taylor, Minister of State for Defence Equipment and Support, said:

"The new Type 45 Destroyers - such as Diamond - will be the most powerful destroyers ever built for the Royal Navy.

"We are in the middle of the biggest shipbuilding programme for the Royal Navy in decades and today's launch of Diamond demonstrates the scale of that investment.

"This is an important day for the Govan shipyard, the Royal Navy, and indeed the UK, and is a tribute to the hard work of everyone involved in this project. I look forward to following Diamond's progress through her sea trials."

The First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Sir Jonathan Band, added:

Type 45 Diamond is launched at at Govan, on the River Clyde
[Picture: Andrew Linnett]

"The Type 45 destroyers will be powerful and versatile ships, capable of undertaking a wide range of military tasks. They are based on first class innovation and engineering, which will set new standards in air defence and will ensure that the Royal Navy remains at the forefront of the world's navies.

"Today confirms the excellent progress we are making on the Type 45 programme."

As well as providing air defence over a wide area, including for the future aircraft carrier, the Type 45 will be able to conduct a wide variety of other operations. They will be able to carry up to 60 Royal Marines Commandos and their equipment and operate a Chinook sized helicopter from the flight deck. The size of the ship will also allow accommodation standards to be better than in previous classes.

Diamond was named and launched by the Lady Sponsor Mrs Suzie Johns, wife of Vice Admiral Adrian Johns CBE, the Navy's Second Sea Lord. The event was followed by an aerial search and rescue display by a Royal Navy Sea King helicopter and a firework display.

Good progress is being made on the Type 45 programme with two ships currently in the water, Diamond, the third launched today, and the fourth and fifth ships (Dragon and Defender) being built.

The first of class, Daring, successfully completed initial sea trials in August 2007, and the second vessel, Dauntless, was launched in January 2007. The Type 45 programme is currently providing 4,000 shipbuilding jobs on the Clyde, 3,600 shipbuilding jobs in Portsmouth, and many more jobs at sub-contractors around the country.

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