News story

HMS Duncan enters home port for 1st time

Type 45 destroyer HMS Duncan has arrived in Portsmouth to commence sea trials ahead of her entering service.

• From: Ministry of Defence, Defence Equipment and Support, and Philip Dunne MP
• Published: 22 March 2013
• Last updated: 22 March 2013 — See all updates

This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

HMS Duncan is the 6th and final of the UK's Type 45 destroyers

The 7,500-tonne vessel, HMS Duncan, armed with the world-leading Sea Viper missile defence system, has sailed to her new home in Portsmouth, where she will undergo a series of trials and tests before being commissioned into the fleet next year.

Her release from shipbuilder BAE Systems and arrival at the Naval Base marks the end of a successful 12-year build programme to provide the Royal Navy with a fleet of the largest and most powerful air defence destroyers it has ever received.

The Minister for Defence Equipment, Support and Technology, Philip Dunne, said:

The arrival of HMS Duncan in Portsmouth today marks the culmination of the Type 45 programme with the UK shipping industry to provide the Royal Navy with a fleet of world class destroyers.

Together these vessels are a formidable force and will play an important part in allowing the Royal Navy to protect our interests wherever needed around the world.

HMS Duncan arrives at her new home in Portsmouth [Picture: Leading Airman (Photographer) Guy Pool, Crown copyright]

Head of the Ship Support Alliance for the MOD’s Defence Equipment and Support organisation, Commodore John Newell said that the achievement represents the end of a ‘huge amount of work by both the MOD and BAE Systems.’

Commander James Stride, HMS Duncan’s Commanding Officer, said:

My team of Royal Navy personnel have been ‘standing-by’ the build of the ship since the launch in October 2010, and the numbers have now grown to the full complement of 180 men and women who are all now focussed on preparing for our sea training and trials phase under the White Ensign prior to joining our sister ships on operations around the globe.

The first Type 45, HMS Daring, arrived in Portsmouth in January 2009. She has been followed by HMS Dauntless, HMS Diamond, HMS Dragon, HMS Defender and now Duncan. They will all be based in Portsmouth.

Published 22 March 2013
Last updated 22 March 2013 + show all updates

1. 22 March 2013

   Corrected from previously published copy which claimed that Duncan has entered service with the Royal Navy. Duncan officially remains a merchant vessel until she is formally commissioned into the fleet in 2014 following a period of demanding sea trials.

2. 22 March 2013

   First published.