Type 42 destroyer

Last updated

HMS Birmingham D86.jpg
HMS Birmingham
Class overview
NameType 42
BuildersVickers, Cammell-Laird, Swan Hunter, Vosper Thorneycroft, CFNE Argentina
Operators
Preceded by
Succeeded by
SubclassesBatches 1, 2 and 3
In service1975–2013
Completed16
LostUK: 2 (Falklands War)
Retired14
General characteristics
Type Guided-missile destroyer
Displacement
  • Batch 1 & 2:
    • 3,500 long tons (3,600 t) standard, [1]
    • 4,100 long tons (4,200 t) [1] or 4,350 tons [2] full load
  • Batch 3:
    • 3,500 long tons (3,600 t) standard, [1]
    • 4,775 long tons (4,852 t) [1] or 5,350 tons [2] full load
Length
  • Batch 1 & 2:
    • 119.5 m (392 ft) waterline, [1]
    • 125 m (410 ft) [1] or 125.6 m (412 ft) [2] overall
  • Batch 3:
    • 132.3 m (434 ft) waterline, [1]
    • 141.1 m (463 ft) [1] [2] overall
Beam
  • Batch 1 & 2: 14.3 m (47 ft) [1] [2]
  • Batch 3: 14.9 m (49 ft) [1] [2]
Draught
  • Batch 1, 2 & 3:
    • 4.2 m (14 ft) keel, [1]
    • 5.8 m (19 ft) propellers [1] [2]
Decks8
Installed power50,000  shp (37 MW)
Propulsion
Speed
  • 30  kn (56 km/h; 35 mph) (2 × Olympus)
  • 24 kn (44 km/h; 28 mph) (1 × Olympus and 1 × Tyne per shaft)
  • 20 kn (37 km/h; 23 mph) (1 × Olympus)
  • 18 kn (33 km/h; 21 mph) (2 × Tyne)
  • 13.8 kn (25.6 km/h; 15.9 mph) (1 × Tyne)
Range4,200  nmi (7,800 km; 4,800 mi) single Tyne RM1C/other shaft trailing at 13.8 kn (25.6 km/h; 15.9 mph)
Boats & landing
craft carried
2
Complement
  • Batch 1 & 2: 253 (incl. 24 officers) [1] or 274,[ citation needed ] accommodation for 312 [1]
  • Batch 3: 269 (2013); [3] 301 (incl. 26 officers) [1] (1993)
  • Batch 1, 2 & 3: 24 officers and 229 ratings [2]
Sensors &
processing systems
  • Radar Type 1022/965P air surveillance,
  • Radar Type 996/992Q 3-D surveillance,
  • 2 × radar Type 909 GWS-30 fire-control,
  • Radar Type 1007 & 1008 navigation,
  • IFF 1016/1017,
  • Sonar Type 2050 / 2016 search,
  • Sonar Type 162 bottom profiling,
Electronic warfare
& decoys
  • UAA2/UAF
  • DLH decoy system
Armament
  • 1 × twin launcher for GWS-30 Sea Dart missiles (22 missiles, space was reserved for an additional 15 in Batch 3)
  • 1 × 4.5 inch Mark 8 naval gun
  • 2 × 20 mm Phalanx CIWS (after 1982, not on Argentine ships)
  • 2 × Oerlikon / BMARC 20 mm L/70 KBA guns in GAM-B01 single mounts
  • 4 × MM38 Exocet anti-ship missile launchers (only on Argentine ships)
  • 2 × STWS II triple anti-submarine torpedo tubes (not on Argentine ships)
Aircraft carried
  • 1 × Westland Lynx HAS / HMA armed with
    • 4 × anti-ship missiles
    • 2 × anti-submarine torpedoes
Aviation facilities Flight deck and enclosed hangar for embarking one helicopter

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]

Contents

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 ships saw limited 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 Dart surface-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 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-operationa in 2020 and formally decommissioned in 2024, while Santísima Trinidad sank at her birth 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 had the 965 or 966 surveillance radar, which had a "slow data-rate". [17] The Type 992Q radar used to designate targets for the gun and missiles lacked Moving Target Indiction (MTI). Though "British radar manufacturers [had] offered to retrofit MTI to these radars... nothing was done." [17] Without MTI, the Type 992Q had difficulty in tracking aircraft when land was behind the aircraft or when there was snow or rain showers. [17] The Type 42 also had "insufficient space for an efficient operations room". [17]

The Type 42 was also equipped with a 4.5 inch Mark 8 naval gun and earlier vessels had six Ships Torpedo Weapon System (STWS) torpedo launchers. Two Phalanx Mk 15 close-in weapon systems (CIWS) were fitted to British Type 42s after the loss of Sheffield to an Exocet missile in 1982.

There have been three batches of ships, batch 1 and 2 displacing 4,820 tonnes and batch 3 (sometimes referred to as the Manchester class) displacing 5,200 tonnes. The batch 3 ships were heavily upgraded, though the proposed Sea Wolf systems upgrades were never fitted. Because of their more general warfare role, both Argentine ships were fitted with the MM38 Exocet, and not with a CIWS.

The electronics suite included one Type 1022 D band long-range radar with Outfit LFB track extractor or one Type 965P long-range air surveillance radar, one Type 996 E band/F band 3D radar for target indication with Outfit LFA track extractor or type 992Q surface search, two Type 909 I/J-band fire-control radars and an Outfit LFD radar track combiner.

All ships were propelled by Rolls-Royce TM3B Olympus and Rolls-Royce RM1C Tyne marinised gas turbines, arranged 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 out through two five-bladed controllable pitch propellers. All have four Paxman Ventura 16YJCAZ diesel generators, each generating 1 megawatt of three-phase electric power (440 V 60 Hz).

The first of the class, Sheffield, was initially fitted with exhaust deflectors on her funnel tops to guide the high-temperature exhaust efflux sidewards and minimise damage to overhead aerials. As this provided a prominent target for then-new infrared homing missiles, only Sheffield and the two Argentine ships, Hércules and Santísima Trinidad exhibited this. All subsequent engine uptakes were fitted with 'cheese graters' that mixed machinery space vent air with the engine exhaust to reduce infrared signatures.

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. [18] 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. [19] Exeter shot down four aircraft: two A-4 Skyhawks, a Learjet 35A and a Canberra bomber. [19] Cardiff was involved in a friendly fire incident resulting in the loss of a British Gazelle helicopter. [19]

Sheffield was hit by an Exocet air-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 bombs unguided bombs on the 25 May 1982, with two detonating. [20] 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. [19]

1991 Gulf War

On February 25, 1991 during Operation Desert Storm, Gloucester shot down an Iraqi Silkworm missile targeting USS Missouri. [21]

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. [22]

Construction programme

Pennant NameHull builder [23] Ordered [23] Laid down [23] Launched [23] Accepted into service [23] [24] [Note 1] CommissionedEstimated building cost [Note 2]
Royal Navy – batch 1
D80 Sheffield Vickers Shipbuilders Ltd, Barrow-in-Furness.14 November 196815 January 197010 June 197116 February 197516 February 1975 [25] [Note 3] £23,200,000 [26]
D86 Birmingham Cammell Laird & Co, Birkenhead.21 May 197128 March 197230 July 197326 November 1976 [27] 3 December 1976 [25] £31,000,000 [28]
D87 Newcastle Swan Hunter Ltd, Wallsend-on-Tyne.11 November 197121 February 197324 April 197525 February 197823 March 1978 [25] £34,600,000 [24]
D118 Coventry Cammell Laird & Co, Birkenhead.21 May 197129 January 197321 June 197420 October 197810 November 1978 [25] £37,900,000 [24] [29]
D88 Glasgow Swan Hunter Ltd, Wallsend-on-Tyne.11 November 197116 April 197414 April 19769 March 197924 May 1979 [25] £36,900,000 [24] [29]
D108 Cardiff Vickers Shipbuilders Ltd, Barrow-in-Furness (to launching stage)
Swan Hunter Ltd, Hebburn (for completion). [29]
10 June 19716 November 197222 February 197422 September 197924 September 1979 [25] £40,500,000 [30] [Note 4]
Royal Navy – batch 2
D89 Exeter Swan Hunter Ltd, Wallsend-on-Tyne.22 January 197622 July 197625 April 197830 August 198019 September 1980 [25] £60,100,000 [24] [29]
D90 Southampton Vosper Thornycroft Ltd, Woolston.17 March 197621 October 197629 January 197917 August 198131 October 1981 [25] £67,500,000 [24]
D92 Liverpool Cammell Laird & Co, Birkenhead.27 May 19775 July 197825 September 198012 May 19821 July 1982 [25] £92,800,000 [24]
D91 Nottingham Vosper Thornycroft Ltd, Woolston.1 March 19776 February 197818 February 198022 December 198214 April 1983 [25] £82,100,000 [24]
Royal Navy – batch 3
D95 Manchester Vickers Shipbuilders Ltd, Barrow-in-Furness.10 November 197819 May 197824 November 198019 November 198216 December 1982 [25] £110,000,000 [24]
D98 York Swan Hunter Ltd, Wallsend-on-Tyne.25 April 197918 January 198021 June 198225 March 1985 [31] 9 August 1985£118,700,000 [31]
D96 Gloucester Vosper Thornycroft Ltd, Woolston.27 March 197929 October 19792 November 198216 May 1985 [31] 11 September 1985£120,800,000 [31]
D97 Edinburgh Cammell Laird & Co, Birkenhead.25 April 19798 September 198013 April 198325 July 1985 [31] 17 December 1985£130,600,000 [31]
Argentine Republic Navy– batch 1
D1 Hércules Vickers Shipbuilders Ltd, Barrow-in-Furness.18 May 197016 June 197124 October 197210 May 1976 [23] 12 July 1976 [23]
D2 Santísima Trinidad AFNE, Rio Santiago, Argentina.18 May 197011 October 19719 November 19741 July 1981

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." [32] 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." [33]

Running costs

Not including major refits and upgrades

DateRunning costWhat is includedCitation
1981–82£10.0 millionAverage annual running cost of Type 42s at average 1981–82 prices and including associated aircraft costs but excluding the costs of major refits. [34]
1985–86£15 millionThe average cost of running and maintaining a type 42 destroyer for one year. [35]
1987–88£7 millionThe average annual operating costs, at financial year 1987–88 prices of a type 42 destroyer. These costs include personnel, fuel, spares, and so on, and administrative support services, but exclude new construction, capital equipment, and refit-repair costs. [36]
2001–02£13.0 millionType 42 destroyer, average annual operating costs, based on historic costs over each full financial year. The figures include manpower, maintenance, fuel, stores, and other costs (such as harbour dues), but exclude depreciation and cost of capital. [37]
2002–03£13.5 million

Including refits and upgrades

DateRunning costWhat is includedCitation
2007–08£31.35 million"The annual operating cost of the Type 42 Class of Destroyers, covering a total of eight vessels in the 07/08 period, is £250.8M." "This is based on information primarily from Financial Year 07/08 the last year for which this information is available, and includes typical day-to-day costs such as fuel and manpower and general support costs covering maintenance, repair and equipment spares. Costs for equipment spares are also included, although these are based on Financial Year 08/09 information as this is the most recent information available. Costs for weapon system support are not included as they could only be provided at disproportionate cost." [38]
2009–10£26.7 million"The average running cost per class... Type 42 is £160.1 million. These figures, based on the expenditure incurred by the Ministry of Defence in 2009–10, include maintenance, safety certification, military upgrades, manpower, inventory, satellite communication, fuel costs, and depreciation.". [39]

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." [40]

Running costs [40]
Ship1995–961996–971997–981998–991999–2000
Birmingham£32.28 million£16.92 million£17.38 million£13.38 million£10.39 million
Newcastle£32.60 million£31.60 million£18.57 million£13.90 million£13.73 million
Glasgow£14.70 million£29.47 million£26.36 million£13.61 million£12.65 million
Cardiff£19.86 million£41.2 million£28.86 million£13.20 million£17.87 million
Exeter£19.46 million£15.72 million£40.83 million£12.76 million£14.48 million
Southampton£16.53 million£20.37 million£17.91 million£39.09 million£18.79 million
Nottingham£18.70 million£17.24 million£19.08 million£13.08 million£32.74 million
Liverpool£16.92 million£20.75 million£14.59 million£14.79 million£14.63 million
Manchester£17.99 million£19.40 million£14.58 million£12.22 million£12.69 million
Gloucester£19.33 million£19.40 million£13.89 million£21.49 million£15.77 million
York£20.48 million£19.79 million£17.50 million£11.78 million£21.88 million
Edinburgh£35.27 million£19.29 million£22.50 million£13.00 million£12.28 million

Availability

In February 1998, the Minister of State for Defence, Dr Reid said: "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." [41]

Fate of ships

PennantNameHome portCommissionedStatus
Royal Navy
Batch 1
D80 Sheffield Portsmouth16 February 1975Sunk in Falklands War 4 May 1982
D86 Birmingham Portsmouth3 December 1976Decommissioned 31 December 1999Scrapped October 2000
D88 Glasgow Portsmouth25 May 1977Decommissioned 1 February 2005Scrapped December 2008
D87 Newcastle Portsmouth23 March 1978Decommissioned 1 February 2005Scrapped November 2008
D118 Coventry Portsmouth20 October 1978Sunk in Falklands War 25 May 1982
D108 Cardiff Portsmouth24 September 1979Decommissioned 14 July 2005Scrapped November 2008
Batch 2
D89 Exeter Portsmouth18 September 1980Decommissioned 27 May 2009Scrapped September 2011
D90 Southampton Portsmouth31 October 1981Decommissioned 12 February 2009 [42] Scrapped October 2011
D92 Liverpool Portsmouth9 July 1982Decommissioned 30 March 2012Scrapped October 2014
D91 Nottingham Portsmouth8 April 1983Decommissioned 11 February 2010Scrapped October 2011
Batch 3
D95 Manchester Portsmouth16 December 1982Decommissioned 24 February 2011Scrapped November 2014
D98 York Portsmouth9 August 1985Decommissioned 27 September 2012 [43] Scrapped August 2015
D96 Gloucester Portsmouth11 September 1985Decommissioned 30 June 2011Scrapped September 2015
D97 Edinburgh Portsmouth17 December 1985Decommissioned 6 June 2013Scrapped August 2015
Navy of the Argentine Republic
B-52
(ex D-1)
Hércules Puerto Belgrano12 July 1976Transformed in a multi-purpose transport ship since 2000. [44] As of 2020, reported non-operational. [45] Formally retired in 2024. [46]
D-2 Santísima Trinidad Puerto Belgrano1 July 1981Decommissioned in 2004.
Intended to become a naval museum, but sank, as a result of negligence, off Puerto Belgrano on 22 January 2013. [47] She was refloated in December 2015 and moved to a drydock to evaluate her restoration as a museum ship. [48] But due to serious damage and lack of funds, she was destined to be scrapped in 2018. [49]
Undergoing for scrapping since 2018. [49]
ARA Hercules following her conversion Hercules babor.jpg
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. [45] 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. [47] She was formally taken out of service in 2024. [50]

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. [49]

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. [51] 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. [51]

See also

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. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Sharpe, Richard, Jane's Fighting Ships 1992–93, pub Janes Information Group, 1992, ISBN   0-7106-0983-3, pp. 696–7
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Heyman, 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. 1 2 3 Marriott, Leo. Royal Navy Destroyers since 1945. Ian Allan Ltd, 1989. ISBN   0-7110-1817-0
  5. 1 2 Friedman, 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. 1 2 3 4 A Preston. Sea Combat off the Falklands. Willow Collins. (1982)London, pp. 112–113
  18. "Type 42 Guided Missile Destroyer". GlobalSecurity.org. Retrieved 10 August 2025.
  19. 1 2 3 4 "Argentine aircraft lost 3 April – 15 June 1982". Naval-History.net. Retrieved 10 August 2025.
  20. Hart Dyke, David (2007). Four Weeks in May: A Captain's Story of War at Sea. London: Atlantic Books. pp. 63–64. ISBN   9781843545910.
  21. "missile attack on battleship USS Missouri". 21 July 2019.
  22. "Type 42 destroyer, United Kingdom". Naval-Technology.com. Retrieved 10 August 2025.
  23. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Marriott, Leo Modern Combat Ships 3, Type 42, pub Ian Allan, 1985, ISBN   0-7110-1453-1-page 28.
  24. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Hansard: HC Deb 23 October 1989 vol 158 cc357-8W 357W Archived 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 .
  25. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 16 July 2008 : Column 452W Archived 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.
  26. Hansard: HC Deb 23 October 1989 vol 158 cc357-8W 357W Archived 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.
  27. Hansard: HC Deb 23 October 1989 vol 158 cc357-8W 357W Archived 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.
  28. Hansard: HC Deb 23 October 1989 vol 158 cc357-8W 357W Archived 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.
  29. 1 2 3 4 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 357W Archived 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.
  31. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Hansard HC Deb 23 October 1989 vol 158 cc358-61W Archived 4 July 2009 at the Wayback Machine Questions to the Secretary of State for Defence, 23 October 1989.
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