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, HMSSheffield(D80) and HMSCoventry(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, HMSBristol(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]
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 HMSExeter(D89), incorporated improved sensors and minor layout changes. The ninth hull, HMSManchester(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]
HMSSheffield(D80) and HMSCoventry(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, HMSEdinburgh(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 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 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.[citation needed]
The lead ship, HMSSheffield(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.[citation needed]
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.
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]
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]
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
Date
Running cost
What is included
Citation
1981–82
£10.0 million
Average annual running cost of Type 42s at average 1981–82 prices and including associated aircraft costs but excluding the costs of major refits.
The 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.
Type 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.
"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."
"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.".
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]
Decommissioned in 2004. Intended to become a naval museum, but sank, as a result of negligence, off Puerto Belgrano on 22 January 2013.[49] She was refloated in December 2015 and moved to a drydock to evaluate her restoration as a museum ship.[50] But due to serious damage and lack of funds, she was destined to be scrapped in 2018.[51]
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.[52]
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.[53] 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.[53]
↑ 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.
↑ "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.
↑ 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.
↑ Moore, John Jane's Fighting Ships, 1982–83, pub Jane's Publishing Co Ltd, 1982, ISBN0-7106-0742-3-page 553 said £40.4 million. Marriott, Leo Modern Combat Ships 3, Type 42, pub Ian Allan, 1985, ISBN0-7110-1453-1-page 15 said £40.4 million. Aldrich, Richard James Intelligence, Defence, and Diplomacy: British Policy in the Post-War World. Taylor & Francis, pub 1994, ISBN0-7146-4140-5 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.
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