HMS DARING will be 'Guernsey's ship'
First Type 45 destroyer will be affiliated to the island...

Guernsey is being affiliated with one of the Royal Navy’s most advanced new air defence warships, it will be announced today (Wednesday 30 January 2008).

The Chief Minister, Deputy Mike Torode, will reveal to the States of Deliberation and to the Island at the January States Meeting that the first of class of the new Type 45 destroyer, HMS Daring, is to become ‘Guernsey’s ship’.

All ships and submarines of the Royal Navy are affiliated to different towns, cities and regions. This strengthens Royal Naval ties with important communities, including organisations such as naval associations, youth groups, charities and other organisations. It is usual for Royal Naval vessels to enjoy a dual affiliation nowadays – HMS Daring will be affiliated with the City of Birmingham as well as Guernsey.

HMS Daring belongs to the most powerful destroyer class ever built in the UK, the Type 45 air defence destroyer. She will be equipped with a state of the art air defence system which will be able to track and destroy a target the size of a cricket ball travelling three times the speed of sound. Over 150m long and displacing almost 8,000 tones, the size of a World War II cruiser, she will have a crew of 190 and a range of 7000 nautical miles.

Together with her five sister ships, Daring is designed to be a flexible multi-role vessel able to carry out a variety of tasks across the globe, from air defence to humanitarian and anti-piracy roles. Her affiliation announcement comes almost two years since she was launched and over a year before HMS Daring will be commissioned in 2009.

HMS Daring is the seventh Royal Navy vessel to bear the name. The last Daring was a 2,800 tonne destroyer, built by Swan Hunter and launched in 1949.

Commander David Shutts, Senior Naval Officer, HMS Daring, said, “When Daring began her sea trials last year, she was quite simply superb – tremendous acceleration, manoeuvrability and stopping power. Both the Royal Navy and the ship builder were completely bowled over by her performance.

I am looking forward to this affiliation enabling us together to forge new links between our service people and the community in Guernsey.”

His Excellency the Lieutenant-Governor, Sir Fabian Malbon, said, “Guernsey has close historic connections with the Royal Navy, and many islanders over the centuries have served with distinction in that Service. The Island community, therefore, knows better than most about the importance of the Royal Navy in today’s uncertain world. In light of this, I wish the affiliation every success and will be very interested to see HMS Daring and to meet her ship’s company in due course. I know from personal experience that the people of Guernsey will give Daring a warm welcome whenever she is able to visit.”

The Bailiff, Geoffrey Rowland, said, "Our Island has always enjoyed a close relationship with all the armed forces, so I am delighted that the Royal Navy is continuing its long association with Guernsey and its people through this affiliation with HMS Daring. It is a special privilege for Guernsey to be affiliated with this state-of-the-art warship and I am grateful to Lord Admiral Sir Jonathan Band KCB, Chief of Naval Staff and First Sea Lord, for offering this opportunity to Guernsey. We will be pleased to welcome HMS Daring and her ship’s company to the Island in due course.”

The Chief Minister, Deputy Mike Torode, said, "I am looking forward to seeing HMS Daring when she makes her first visit to her newly adopted home and I am thrilled that by announcing this affiliation we can celebrate an important development in our shared history.”