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Type 42 destroyer

Sharpe, Richard, ''Jane's Fighting Ships 1992–93'', pub Janes Information Group, 1992, {{ISBN|0-7106-0983-3}}, pp. 696–7 \n ** {{convert|4100|LT|tonne|abbr=on}} or 4,350 to...

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The Type 42 or Sheffield 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 expensive Type 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 adding close-in weapon systems.[4]

Two vessels, HMS Sheffield (D80) and HMS Coventry (D118), were lost in the 1982 Falklands 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 capable Type 45 destroyer.[4]

In addition to British service, two Type 42s were built for the Argentine Navy. These two ships saw limited service, few upgrades and were eventually retired.[6]

History

Following the cancellation of the Type 82 air-defence destroyers and the proposed CVA-01 aircraft carrier by the Labour Government in 1966, the Type 42 was conceived as a lighter, cheaper alternative with similar capabilities. The class was fitted with the GWS30 Sea Dartsurface-to-air missile, first deployed on the sole Type 82 destroyer, HMS Bristol (D23).[7] The ships also had a flight deck and hangar to operate an anti-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 the Argentine Navy. ARA ARA Hércules (B-52) was built in the Vickers Shipbuilding yard in Barrow-in-Furness, United Kingdom, and delivered August 1976. ARA ARA Santísima Trinidad (1974) was built at the AFNE Río Santiago Shipyard in Buenos 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 (14 m) removed from the bow forward of the bridge, reducing the beam-to-length ratio. These early Batch 1 ships performed poorly during sea trials in heavy weather, prompting a review.[10] Batch 2 ships, beginning with HMS 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 external strake to counter longitudinal cracking.[11]

HMS Sheffield (D80) and HMS Coventry (D118) were both sunk in the Falklands War.[12] This was the first conflict since World War II in which surface warships of the same design served on opposing sides. Although there was no direct contact between the ships, both Santísima Trinidad and Hércules locked on to Sea 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, while Santísima Trinidad sank at her berth at the Port Belgrano Naval Base in January 2013, she was in poor condition before sinking, having been cannibalised to keep Hércules operational.[16]

Design

The first batch was fitted with the Type 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 single 4.5 inch Mark 8 naval gun, and earlier vessels carried six Ships Torpedo Weapon System (STWS) torpedo launchers. The Argentine Santísima Trinidad was equipped with the MM38 Exocet for a broader anti-ship capability. The boat 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 on Santísima Trinidad.[18]

There were three production batches. Batch 1 and Batch 2 ships displaced 4,820 tonnes, while Batch 3 (sometimes referred to as the Manchester class) displaced 5,200 tonnes. The Batch 3 ships were heavily upgraded, incorporating lessons from the Falklands War, although the Sea Wolf missile system was never fitted. Two Phalanxclose-in weapon systems were mounted amidships to all surviving batches.[19]

The electronics suite comprised either a Type 1022 D band long-range radar with Outfit LFB track extractor, or a Type 965P long-range air surveillance radar; one Type 996 E band/F band3D radar for target indication with Outfit LFA track extractor, or a Type 992Q surface-search radar; two Type 909 I/J-band fire-control radars; and an Outfit LFD radar track combiner.

All ships were powered by Rolls-Royce TM3B Olympus and Rolls-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-bladed controllable pitch propellers. Electrical power was supplied by four Paxman Ventura 16YJCAZ diesel generators, each producing 1 MW of three-phase electric power at 440 V, 60 Hz.

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 for infrared homing missiles, so only Sheffield 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 reduce infrared signatures.

Availability

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]

Operational history and service

The Type 42 class was designed to counter long-range strategic bombers from the former Soviet Long-Range Aviation and Soviet Naval Aviation (AV-MF), and to provide area defence for a carrier battle group.

1982 Falklands War

Five ships took part in the Falklands War: Sheffield, Coventry, Glasgow, Exeter and Cardiff.[21] providing long-range air defence and achieving seven confirmed "kills". Coventry was credited with three aircraft: a Puma SA.330L and two A-4 Skyhawks.[22] Exeter shot down four aircraft: two A-4 Skyhawks, a Learjet 35A and a Canberra bomber.[22]Cardiff was involved in a friendly fire incident resulting in the loss of a British Gazelle helicopter.[22]

Sheffield was hit by an Exocetair-to-surface missile launched by an Argentine Super Étendard on 4 May 1982 and sank six days later; Coventry was sunk by 3, 250 kg unguided bombs on the 25 May 1982, with two detonating.[23] and Glasgow was disabled by a bomb that passed through her aft engine room without exploding, damaging fuel systems and disabling the cruising engines. These losses led to a reassessment to subsequent vessels.[22]

1991 Gulf War

On February 25, 1991, during Operation Desert Storm, Gloucester shot down an Iraqi Silkworm missile targeting USS Missouri.[24]

Task group deployments

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]

Construction programme

In May 1982, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Jerry Wiggin) stated that the current replacement cost of a Type 42 destroyer of the Sheffield 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]

Running costs

Not including major refits and upgrades

Including refits and upgrades

In May 2000, the Minister 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]

Fate of ships

ARA Hércules following her conversion

The surviving Argentine Type 42, Hércules, was based at Puerto 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 extensively cannibalised 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]

Replacement

All the Royal Navy Type 42 ships are now decommissioned. Initially, the United Kingdom sought to procure replacements through collaboration with seven other NATO nations under the NFR-90 project, and then with France and Italy via the Horizon CNGF programme. Both collaborative ventures failed, leading to the national Type 45 project.[52] Six Type 45 destroyers, Daring, Dauntless, Diamond, Dragon, Defender and Duncan, are all in commission and are considerably larger, displacing 7,500 tonnes compared to the Type 42's 3,600 tonnes.[52]

See also

Equivalent destroyers of the same era

  • Spruance class – Destroyer class of the US Navy
  • Sovremenny class – Class of destroyer built for the Soviet Navy
  • Audace class – Italian class of guided missile destroyers
  • Tachikaze class – Japanese guided missile destroyer class
  • Iroquois class – Class of guided missile destroyers
  • Gangwon class – Destroyers of the South Korean Navy
  • Type 051 class – Class of guided missile destroyers fielded by the Chinese People's Liberation Army NavyPages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets

Notes

  1. ↑The term used in Navy Estimates and Defence Estimates is "accepted into service". Hansard has used the term acceptance date. Leo Marriott in his various books uses the term "completed", as does Jane's Fighting Ships. These terms all mean the same thing: the date the Navy accepts the vessel from the builder. This date is important because maintenance cycles, etc. are generally calculated from the acceptance date.
  2. ↑"Unit cost, i.e. excluding the cost of certain items (e.g. aircraft, First Outfits)." – Text from Defences Estimates"They do not include other costs, such as those for Government Furnished Equipment (GFE)—as they are not held centrally for each ship and could be provided only at disproportionate cost." Bob Ainsworth, Minister of State for the Armed Forces, 16 July 2008.
  3. ↑These two sources are in agreement about the dates vessels were commissioned, with the following exceptions:
    • Sheffield: Marriott 28 February 1975. Hansard 16 February 1975.
    • Glasgow: Marriott 25 May 1979. Hansard 24 May 1979.
    • Cardiff: Marriott 19 October 1979. Hansard 24 September 1979.
    • Nottingham: Marriott 8 April 1983. Hansard 14 April 1983.
    • Liverpool: Marriott 9 July 1982. Hansard 1 July 1982.
  4. ↑Moore, John Jane's Fighting Ships, 1982–83, pub Jane's Publishing Co Ltd, 1982, ISBN 0-7106-0742-3-page 553 said £40.4 million.Marriott, Leo Modern Combat Ships 3, Type 42, pub Ian Allan, 1985, ISBN 0-7110-1453-1-page 15 said £40.4 million.Aldrich, Richard James Intelligence, Defence, and Diplomacy: British Policy in the Post-War World. Taylor & Francis, pub 1994, ISBN 0-7146-4140-5 page 119 says: "One example of how delay in procurement programmes can raise costs is the construction of the Type-42 destroyer HMS Cardiff. Vickers Shipbuilders had originally intended to deliver the vessel in 1975 for a total cost of £15 million. Owing to difficulties in recruiting labourer to work on construction the ship was only completed in 1978 and cost double the original price (over £30 million)." On page 129 it gives the source of this cost data as: "Fourth Report from the Committee on Public Accounts, 1976–77 (H.C. 304), April 1977, pp xii–xiii and Q. 92."The cost quoted in Aldrich is from a source written before the completion of the vessel, and so is less complete than the cost quoted in Jane's and Marriott, which were written after completion of the vessel, and are nearly the same as the Hansard figure.

References

  1. 123456789101112131415Sharpe, Richard, Jane's Fighting Ships 1992–93, pub Janes Information Group, 1992, ISBN 0-7106-0983-3, pp. 696–7
  2. 1234567Heyman, Charles The Armed Forces of the United Kingdom 1999–2000, pub Pen and Sword, 1998, ISBN 978-0-85052-621-9, pp. 40–41
  3. ↑Royal Navy (11 July 2013). A Global Force 2012/13(PDF). Newsdesk Media. ISBN 978-1-906940-75-1. Archived from the original(PDF) on 21 September 2018. Complement as of 24 April 2013
  4. 123Marriott, Leo. Royal Navy Destroyers since 1945. Ian Allan Ltd, 1989. ISBN 0-7110-1817-0
  5. 12Friedman, Norman. British Destroyers & Frigates: The Second World War and After. Seaforth Publishing, 2012. ISBN 978-1848320299.
  6. ↑"Argentine Navy Type 42 Destroyers". GlobalSecurity.org. Retrieved 10 August 2025.
  7. ↑"Sea Dart naval surface-to-air missile system". Navy Lookout. Retrieved 10 August 2025.
  8. ↑"Royal Navy Destroyers of the 1970s". USNI Proceedings. Retrieved 10 August 2025.
  9. ↑"MEKO 360 Type 42 Hércules-class destroyers". SeaForces.org. Retrieved 10 August 2025.
  10. ↑"Type 42 destroyers". SeaForces.org. Retrieved 10 August 2025.
  11. ↑"Type 42 Sheffield-class destroyers". Naval Encyclopedia. Retrieved 10 August 2025.
  12. ↑"British Ships lost or Damaged 1 – 12 June 1982". Naval-History.net. Retrieved 10 August 2025.
  13. ↑"Destructor A.R.A. "Santisima Trinidad"". histamar.com.ar (in Spanish). Retrieved 20 June 2015.
  14. ↑Ethell, Jeffrey; Price, Alfred (1983). Air War South Atlantic. Sidgwick & Jackson. pp. 71, 75. ISBN 0-283-99035-X.
  15. ↑"Type 42 destroyer HMS Edinburgh decommissioned". GOV.UK. Retrieved 10 August 2025.
  16. ↑"Argentine destroyer Santísima Trinidad sinks alongside naval base". MercoPress. Retrieved 10 August 2025.
  17. 1234A Preston. Sea Combat off the Falklands. Willow Collins. London, 1982, pp. 112–113.
  18. ↑Tecnología militar (in Spanish). Vol. 26. Grupo Editorial Mönch. 2004. p. 103.
  19. ↑https://www.navylookout.com/reflecting-on-the-life-and-times-of-the-type-42-destroyers Navy Lookout 0 Reflecting on the life and times of the Type 42 destroyers
  20. ↑Hansard, 5 February 1998: Column 762Archived 5 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine Answer by Secretary of State for Defence, Dr John Reid, 5 February 1998.
  21. ↑"Type 42 Guided Missile Destroyer". GlobalSecurity.org. Retrieved 10 August 2025.
  22. 1234"Argentine aircraft lost 3 April – 15 June 1982". Naval-History.net. Retrieved 10 August 2025.
  23. ↑Hart Dyke, David (2007). Four Weeks in May: A Captain's Story of War at Sea. London: Atlantic Books. pp. 63–64. ISBN 9781843545910.
  24. ↑"missile attack on battleship USS Missouri". 21 July 2019.
  25. ↑"Type 42 destroyer, United Kingdom". Naval-Technology.com. Retrieved 10 August 2025.
  26. 1234567Marriott, Leo Modern Combat Ships 3, Type 42, pub Ian Allan, 1985, ISBN 0-7110-1453-1-page 28.
  27. 123456789Hansard: HC Deb 23 October 1989 vol 158 cc357-8W 357WArchived 4 July 2009 at the Wayback Machine Question to the Secretary of State for Defence regarding warship costs, 23 October 1989. This section is the first part of the table that is continued on Hansard: HC Deb 23 October 1989 vol 158 c360W Archived 4 July 2009 at the Wayback Machine.
  28. 123456789101116 July 2008 : Column 452WArchived 28 July 2018 at the Wayback Machine Questions to Secretary of the State for Defence, 16 July 2008.Marriott, Leo Modern Combat Ships 3, Type 42, pub Ian Allan, 1985, ISBN 0-7110-1453-1-page 28.
  29. ↑Hansard: HC Deb 23 October 1989 vol 158 cc357-8W 357WArchived 4 July 2009 at the Wayback Machine Question to the Secretary of State for Defence regarding warship costs, 23 October 1989.Marriott, Leo Modern Combat Ships 3, Type 42, pub Ian Allan, 1985, ISBN 0-7110-1453-1-page 15.Moore, John Jane's Fighting Ships, 1982–83, pub Jane's Publishing Co Ltd, 1982, ISBN 0-7106-0742-3-page 553.
  30. ↑Hansard: HC Deb 23 October 1989 vol 158 cc357-8W 357WArchived 4 July 2009 at the Wayback Machine Question to the Secretary of State for Defence regarding warship costs, 23 October 1989 says 26 November 1976.Marriott, Leo Modern Combat Ships 3, Type 42, pub Ian Allan, 1985, ISBN 0-7110-1453-1-page 28 says October 1976.
  31. ↑Hansard: HC Deb 23 October 1989 vol 158 cc357-8W 357WArchived 4 July 2009 at the Wayback Machine Question to the Secretary of State for Defence regarding warship costs, 23 October 1989 says £31.0 million.Moore, John Jane's Fighting Ships, 1982–83, pub Jane's Publishing Co Ltd, 1982, ISBN 0-7106-0742-3-page 553 says £30.9 million.
  32. 1234Moore, John Jane's Fighting Ships, 1982–83, pub Jane's Publishing Co Ltd, 1982, ISBN 0-7106-0742-3-page 553.
  33. ↑Hansard: HC Deb 23 October 1989 vol 158 cc357-8W 357WArchived 4 July 2009 at the Wayback Machine Question to the Secretary of State for Defence regarding warship costs, 23 October 1989 says £40.5 million.
  34. 123456Hansard HC Deb 23 October 1989 vol 158 cc358-61WArchived 4 July 2009 at the Wayback Machine Questions to the Secretary of State for Defence, 23 October 1989.
  35. ↑Hansard HC Deb 27 May 1982 vol 24 c397WArchived 18 July 2009 at the Wayback Machine Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about the current replacement cost of a Type 42 destroyer of the Sheffield class., 27 May 1982
  36. ↑Hansard HC Deb 23 July 1984 vol 64 c534WArchived 8 July 2009 at the Wayback Machine Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about the latest cost estimate of aTtype 42 destroyer, 23 July 1984.
  37. ↑Hansard HC Deb 16 July 1982 vol 27 cc485-6WArchived 9 July 2009 at the Wayback Machine Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about operating costs of naval vessels, 16 July 1982.
  38. ↑Hansard HC Deb 22 January 1987 vol 108 c730WArchived 14 July 2009 at the Wayback Machine Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about operating costs of naval vessels, 22 January 1987.
  39. ↑Hansard HC Deb 10 March 1989 vol 148 c44WArchived 16 July 2009 at the Wayback Machine Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about operating costs of naval vessels, 10 March 1989.
  40. ↑Hansard HC Deb 09 September 2003 vol 410 cc346-7WArchived 16 July 2009 at the Wayback Machine Question to the Secretary of State for Defence 9 September 2003.
  41. ↑"Hansard 9 Sep 2009, Column 2001W". Archived from the original on 19 April 2018. Retrieved 17 September 2017.
  42. ↑24 November 2010 Written Answers
  43. 12John Spellar (22 May 2000), "Naval Vessels", Parliamentary Debates (Hansard), vol. 350, cc318-9W, archived from the original on 11 July 2009
  44. ↑"Daily Echo HMS Southampton bows out after 28 years". Archived from the original on 26 June 2009. Retrieved 11 February 2009.
  45. ↑""BBC: Royal Navy's HMS York makes final Portsmouth return"". BBC News. 20 September 2012. Archived from the original on 6 January 2016. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
  46. ↑"Especificaciones Técnicas". 8 December 2006. Archived from the original on 8 December 2006. Retrieved 16 December 2018.
  47. 12"El retroceso operacional de la Armada Argentina en la últimas décadas". 3 August 2021.
  48. 12Videla Solá, Mariano Germán (22 March 2024). "After years without sailing, the Argentine Navy confirms the definitive decommissioning of the Multipurpose Fast Transport ARA "Hércules"". Zona Militar. Retrieved 27 March 2024.
  49. 12"Falklands warship sinks in Argentina". The Daily Telegraph. 23 January 2013. Archived from the original on 25 September 2015. Retrieved 20 June 2015.
  50. ↑"La Armada incorpora dos navíos comprados a Rusia y reflota el 'Trinidad', que participó en Malvinas". 18 December 2015. Archived from the original on 31 December 2015. Retrieved 1 January 2016.
  51. 123"El Santísima Trinidad no será museo y finalmente será raleado - El Rosalenio Digital - Punta Alta". elrosalenio (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 6 December 2018. Retrieved 16 December 2018.
  52. 12"Providing Anti Air Warfare Capability: the Type 45 destroyer". National Audit Office. 13 March 2009. ISBN 978-0-10-295468-5. Archived from the original on 5 August 2011.
  • Royal Navy Type 42 destroyers website