Sheffield Class Type 42 Destroyers

The principle role of the Sheffield Class Type 42 destroyers is to provide area air defence for a task force and since their introduction into service they have constituted the fleet's principle anti-air warfare capability. However they also have the secondary roles of confronting surface and anti-submarine targets. A total of sixteen ships were built between 1972 and 1985, although two were tragically lost in the Falklands War.

After the abandoning of the CVA fleet carrier replacement programme in the 1960s, the requirement for a class of large escorts- the Type 82 Destroyers- ceased to exist and only one unit, Bristol, was completed. However the necessity for a class of Anti Air Warfare (AAW) destroyers armed with Sea Dart missiles remained. They were required to be smaller and cheaper than the vessels they replaced- the County Class Destroyers - but would have to provide the capabilities of the Type 82 with a smaller complement and hull size. The introduction of these vessels was vital as otherwise the navy would lack a sufficient number of anti-aircraft destroyers, so the project was given top priority (hence the Amazon Class Frigates were a commercial design). Designated the 'Type 42' the 12 ships were named after large British cities, commemorating many of the Town Class cruisers that fought with such distinction in the Second World War. The first unit- Sheffield - was launched in 1971 and cost £23 million to build. She was followed into Royal Navy service by 13 sisterships. Two ships of the class were also built for the Argentine Navy. The first Argentine ship, Hercules (D28), was constructed by Vickers at Barrow-in-Furness and commissioned in July 1976. The second ship, named Santisima Trinidad (D29), was built in Argentina by AFNE naval yard and launched in 1974 but not commissioned until 1981.

The Type 42's are powered by two Rolls-Royce Tyne Engines, which give a cruising speed of 18 knots, and two Rolls-Royce Olympus engines for high speed running at 31 knots. They also have controllable pitch propellers, which make them maneuverable ships capable of executing sharp turns. They are armed with the British Aerospace surface-to-air Sea Dart missile system, which provides defence against both aircraft and missiles. Unlike the Type 82 Destroyer, the Type 42 was designed and built with both a helicopter deck and hanger and one of its most versatile weapons is the Lynx helicopter. This provides the Type 42's principle anti-submarine weapon and not only extends the range of the destroyer's radar, but it also carries the potent Sea Skua missile, that was used to great effect in the Gulf War. They are also equipped with a 114mm (4.5 inch) gun, and are therefore able to provide NGFS (Naval Gunfire Support), and with anti-submarine missile tubes.

The Batch 2 vessels have the same hull shape as the first batch but were completed with new and improved sensors, most notably the Type 1022 long range air search radar. The batch 1 and 2 ships have a displacement of 3560 tonnes, measure 125 metres in length and have a beam of 14.6 metres. The four batch 3 ships- often referred to as the 'Manchester Class'- are some seven metres longer than the rest of the class and hence are known as 'stretched'. The extra length provides more room for weapon systems, increases the speed of the ship and provides greater stability in poor weather. It also has the added advantage of giving the destroyers a more pleasing appearance. They also have deck edge stiffening to counter hull stress. As a result of these modifications, the batch 3 vessels have a displacement of 3,880 tonnes and are 139 metres in length with a complement of 269.

When the Falklands Conflict occurred in 1982 the class was well represented in the Task Force sent to recapture the islands. Five Type 42s participated- Coventry, Sheffield, Cardiff, Glasgow and Exeter. Their principle role in the conflict was to provide air defence for the two aircraft carriers - Hermes and Invincible- and the amphibious forces. However, serious problems with the design and armament of the class was highlighted by the tragic loss of Sheffield and Coventry. The Falklands War demonstrated the Type 42 design was vulnerable to low level sea skimming missiles and aircraft. The campaign also had the added complexity of British Type 42 destroyers facing combat with the two Argentine vessels of the same design. During the early part of the Falklands war the two Argentine vessels escorted the carrier Veinticinco de Mayo before she returned to port. Their initial presence meant the British ‘Sheffield Class’ Type 42’s sent to the South Atlantic had to have a large black stripe painted down their sides for easy identification. The severing of relations with Britain that occurred as an immediate result of the war has meant the Argentine Navy has found it increasingly difficult to obtain spare parts for their aging Type 42's.

The complement of 280 officers and men have given the first two batches reputations as crowded, cramped ships. During the Falklands Conflict (1982) this was a major problem as HMS Sheffield was destroyed not by the detonation of the exocet missile, but by the fires that spread through the ship at a rapid rate. More recently it has led to difficulties in incorporating WRENs into the ship's company. Experience in the Falklands War, especially the tragic loss of Sheffield and Coventry, also highlighted the lack of close range defence, especially from low flying aircraft and sea skimming missiles. As a result the seaboats and davits were removed to make way for 20 mm Phalanx close in weapon system (CIWS) and chaff decoys. It was planned for the batch 3 to receive the vertical launch Sea Wolf system but budget constraints prevented this from occurring. Edinburgh was however fitted with a Vulcan Phalanx.

The Type 42 had considerably more success in the 1991 Persian Gulf War and Gloucester in particular fought with distinction. Lynx helicopters flying from Gloucester and Cardiff were responsible for the destruction of a number of anti-aircraft batteries and small combat craft such as minesweepers, landing craft and missile patrol boats. However, Gloucester's real triumph came when she detected and destroyed an incoming silkworm missile bound from the US battleship Missouri, with seconds to spare.

In the 1980s and 1990s the Type 42 were increasingly being used as guardships in the Caribbean, West Indies and South Atlantic. In the Caribbean in particular they proved extremely successful especially in anti-narcotic operations where they worked alongside the US Drug Enforcement Agency. They have also been able to provide humanitarian help in the region. For instance, both Southampton and Liverpool came to the aid of Montserrat in the 1990s. They have also continued in their air defence role, which has had added importance since the Sea Dart missile system was removed from the three Invincible Class carriers. Hence on overseas deployments the carriers nearly always sail with a Type 42.

The replacement of these vessels has caused a considerable number of problems under both the Conservative and Labour governments. They were to have been replaced by the Common New Generation Frigate (dubbed 'Project Horizon') in conjunction with the French and Italian navies. This project suffered many set backs and delays, whilst the Type 42s weren't getting any younger. At one point the United States Navy (USN) stepped in and offered to lease the Royal Navy five early Ticonderoga class AGEIS cruisers. Nevertheless the New Labour government elected in 1997 continued the project until 1999 when they started to develop their own replacement, the Type 45. However the first replacement vessel, Daring, will not enter service until 2007 at the latest. This has proved the problem as the Type 42s are becoming increasingly difficult and costly to maintain and operate while the Sea Dart has been described as "approaching obsolescence". The first Type 42 to decommission, Birmingham, was paid off at the end of 1999. She has been stripped of her equipment that will be used to maintain her sister ships until 2006. After then, the remaining eleven ships will be paid off at six monthly intervals.

Class Details

Above: A batch 2 Type 42 Destroyer launches a Sea Dart missile.© Crown Copyright.

Ship Histories:

______________________________________________________________________________________________

[Return to Warships]

© Written and researched by Jeremy Olver. Last updated 29th October 2000. Disclaimer.