HMS Daring sea trials 18th July 2007

A very uncluttered looking ship. I am intrigued by the "boiled egg" atop of the forward stack. It seemed to be rotating in the TV shots. Is this the new Sky TV dish?

To mis-quote the Duke of Wellington: "Very Large Ship, Very Small Gun"

At first glance I am wondering if the bod who was the chief designer also was a keen golfer.The round ball on the forward mast looks like a golf ball on a tee.

But I suppose the design would have something to do stealth

The round golf ball on the foremast is the SAMPSON phased-array radar, used for Surveillance and guidance for the ships ASTER SAM missile system

How about the monster flat screen TV. Air surveillance?

Yes Ewen I think thats the long range air surveillance radar.

Hard to guage the size of these ships. Can get a rough Idea from the 4.5" gun. Be interesting to see one next to a type 23.

The bridge windows look massive though, almost makes the ship look smaller than it is.

She's not far off the size of the old County class GMDs.

Indeed, the radar on the mainmast was rotating. It has projections from the sphere which have earned it the nickname of Sputnik for those of a certain generation who remember that...............

Apparently the ships are palatially appointed as far as accomodation is concerned - 6 to a cabin for the Ships company - That's certainly novel in an RN Destroyer, far more civilised than the ships she is replacing in service the Type 42, I remember 54 men to a mess in the after Jungle (3P Mess). I believe the old Ark had some Messdecks with up to 80 men.
I have always thought that although it's more civilised and the men seem to have much more comfort, privacy and space, this luxury may take away a degree of comraderie and a sense of closeness that kept a ships company a close knit fighting unit. What are the thoughts of fellow SN's?

Regards,

Tom