HMS Dragon (D35)

HMS Dragon (D35)

Dragon inbound to Southampton Water 1st May 2012

Career (UK)
Name: Ordered: Builder: Yard number: Laid down: Launched: Sponsored by: Commissioned: Identification: HMS Dragon December 2000 BVT Surface Fleet 1064
[1]

19 December 2005 17 November 2008 Mrs. Susie Boissier 20th April 2012 Deck code: DR Pennant number: D35 [2] International callsign: GMIA [3] IMO number: 4907866 "We yield but to St George" Stage 2 trials

Motto: Status: Badge:

General characteristics
Type: Displacement: Length: Beam: Draught: Guided missile destroyer 8,000t (7,900 long tons; 8,800 short tons) 152.4m (500ft0in) 21.2m (69ft7in) 7.4m (24ft3in)
[4]

HMS Dragon (D35)

Propulsion:

2 shafts Integrated electric propulsion (IEP);

2 Rolls-Royce WR-21 gas turbines, 21.5MW (28,800 shp) each [5] 2 Wrtsil 12V200 diesel generators, 2MW (2,700shp) each 2 Converteam electric motors, 20MW (27,000shp) each
[]

Speed: Range: Complement:

In excess of 29kn (54km/h; 33mph)

7,000 nautical miles (13,000km) at 18kn (33km/h) 190 SAMPSON multi-function air tracking radar (Type 1045) S1850M 3-D air surveillance radar (Type 1046) 2 Raytheon I-band Radar (Type 1047) 1 Raytheon E/F-band Radar [6] (Type 1048) [7] Ultra Electronics Series 2500 Electro-Optical Gun Control System (EOGCS) Ultra Electronics SML Technologies radar tracking system Ultra Electronics/EDO MFS-7000 sonar UAT16 Surface ship torpedo defence (SSTD) Airbone Sys IDS300 decoy

Sensors and processing systems:

Electronic warfare & decoys: Armament:

Anti-air missiles: Sea Viper (PAAMS) air defence system. 1 48-cell Sylver A50 VLS, for a combination of 48: Aster 15 missiles (range 1.7-30km) Aster 30 missiles (range 3-120km) Anti-ship missiles: 2 quad Harpoon launchers (4 ships only) Guns: 1 BAE 4.5 inch Mark 8 naval gun 2 Oerlikon 30mm guns 2 Phalanx CIWS 2 Miniguns 6 general purpose machine guns

Aircraft carried:

1-2 Lynx HMA8, armed with;

4 Sea Skua anti ship missiles, or 2 anti submarine torpedoes

or [8] 1 Westland Merlin HM1, armed with;

4 anti submarine torpedoes Large flight deck Enclosed hangar

Aviation facilities:

HMS Dragon is the fourth ship of the Type 45 or Daring-class air-defence destroyers built for the Royal Navy. She was launched in November 2008 and commissioned on 20 April, 2012.[9]

HMS Dragon (D35)

Operational history
Dragon's construction began at the then BAE Systems Naval Ships (later BAE Systems Surface Fleet Solutions) yard at Scotstoun on the River Clyde in December 2005, and by December 2007 the bow section was in place on the Govan slipway for mating with the other modules. Dragon launched from the slipway at Govan on 17 November 2008 at 3:00pm.[] Her sponsor is Mrs. Susie Boissier, wife of Vice Admiral Paul Boissier, Deputy Commander-in-Chief Fleet and Chief of Staff.[10] She will be fitted out at Scotstoun. HMS Dragon commenced her first set of contractor's sea trials on 5 November 2010.[11]

Recent service
HMS Dragon joined the Royal Navy Surface Fleet on Friday, 20 April 2012.[12] On Friday 27 April she made her maiden visit to Liverpool, staying for three days. She was opened to the public on Saturday 28 April, with visitors able to see the inside of the ship, including the operations room. In August 2013, it was reported that Dragon was sailing with the USSNimitz carrier group in the Arabian Sea, acting as the main point ship for aircraft control.[13][14] In August 2013, several Typhoons from No. 6 Squadron RAF were exercising with Dragon and US fighters in the Gulf.[15]

Advanced air-defence
The Type 45 destroyers are primarily designed for anti-aircraft and anti-missile warfare with the capability to defend against aircraft, drones as well as supersonic sea skimming anti-ship missiles.[16] The Royal Navy describe the destroyers mission as "to shield the Fleet from air attack". The Type 45 destroyer uses the sophisticated Sea Viper air-defence system[17] utilizing the SAMPSON active electronically scanned array multi-function air tracking radar, and the S1850M long-range air surveillance radar. The Sea Viper system is able to control and coordinate several missiles in the air at once, allowing several tracks to be intercepted. It has been suggested that the SAMPSON radar is capable of tracking an object the size of a cricket ball travelling at three times the speed of sound.[18] A core component of the Type 45's Sea Viper air-defence system is the Aster missile, composing of the Aster 15 and Aster 30. MBDA describe Aster as an anti-missile missile capable of intercepting all types of high performance air threats at a max range of 120 km (Aster 30).[19] The Aster missile is autonomously guided and equipped with an active RF seeker enabling it to cope with "saturated attacks" thanks to a "Multiple engagement capability" and a "high rate of fire".[19] Presently the Daring-class destroyers are equipped with a 48-cell A50 Sylver Vertical Launching System allowing for a mix of up to 48 Aster 15 and 30 missiles. However, the Type 45 destroyer was designed to accommodate a total of 64-cells, while some reports suggest a total of 72-cells.[20]

Affiliations
Cardiff, Wales[21] The Royal Thames Yacht Club The Worshipful Company of Plaisterers[22] The Welsh Livery Guild[citation needed] Royal Navy recognised Sea Scout Groups of Barry Scout District [23][citation needed]

HMS Dragon (D35)

References
[13] http:/ / www. royalnavy. mod. uk/ News-and-Events/ Latest-News/ 2013/ August/ 01/ 130801-Dragon-prepare-for-new-RN-Carriers [14] http:/ / www. portsmouth. co. uk/ news/ defence/ protecting-the-defenders-on-the-high-seas-1-5448678 [15] https:/ / navynews. co. uk/ archive/ news/ item/ 8625 [16] Type 45 ("Daring" Class) Destroyer (http:/ / navy-matters. beedall. com/ daring1-2. htm) [17] HMS Dragon roars into life: Royal Navy's latest and most technologically advanced warship is launched (http:/ / www. dailymail. co. uk/ news/ article-2032581/ HMS-Dragon-roars-life-Royal-Navys-latest-technologically-advanced-warship-launched. html) [19] MBDA - Aster PDF (http:/ / www. mbda-systems. com/ mediagallery/ files/ aster_ds. pdf) [20] Type 45 ("Daring" Class) Destroyer (http:/ / navy-matters. beedall. com/ daring1-2. htm) [23] http:/ / www. barryscouts. org

External links
Royal Navy Website photo gallery (http://www.royal-navy.mod.uk/server/show/nav.2228)

Article Sources and Contributors

Article Sources and Contributors

HMS Dragon (D35) Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=571811141 Contributors: Aidan Jennings, Andysimo123, Antarctic-adventurer, Antiochus the Great, Bellhalla, Benea, C628, Charleyjb, CrackDragon, David Biddulph, David Underdown, DocKrin, Dormskirk, Dpaajones, Dricherby, Finavon, Foxhound66, Fry1989, George.Hutchinson, GraemeLeggett, HandsomeFella, Haus, J.delanoy, John Smith's, JonEastham, King nothing, Lightmouse, MBK004, Mark83, Miyagawa, Mjroots, MrDolomite, ObscureReality, Phd8511, Rabundy, Ryan4314, Saberwyn, Shem1805, Thundercloud, Woody, 25 anonymous edits

Image Sources, Licenses and Contributors

File:HMS Dragon-1.JPG Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:HMS_Dragon-1.JPG License: Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 3.0 Contributors: User:Adrignola File:Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Naval_Ensign_of_the_United_Kingdom.svg License: Public Domain Contributors: AnonMoos, Avicennasis, Bender235, Cycn, Dancingwombatsrule, Ec.Domnowall, Fry1989, Homo lupus, Pumbaa80, Stunteltje, Xiengyod, Yaddah, 3 anonymous edits Image:HMS Dragon Crest.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:HMS_Dragon_Crest.jpg License: unknown Contributors: Shem1805

License
Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported //creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/