The Royal Navy Type 45 destroyer HMS Dauntless has left His Majesty’s Naval Base (HMNB) Portsmouth and returned to UK waters after successfully completing its recertification period, the Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S) organisation of the UK Ministry of Defence announced on 18 October 2024.
“Since HMS Dauntless returned to HMNB Portsmouth for recertification the DE&S Type 45 project team, BAE Systems and ship’s company have worked collaboratively to deliver this demanding project, which included completing Lloyds recertification, essential maintenance, operational defects (OPDEF) rectification and installation of capability upgrades,” DE&S stated.
HMS Dauntless returned to Portsmouth from deployment in December 2023 after operating in the Caribbean for several months.
The Daring-class destroyer has now joined Exercise ‘Strike Warrior’: an autumn training programme that involves the UK Carrier Strike Group and international warships forming together for a myriad of tasks. This is considered a precursor for the Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales’ deployment to Japan and the Indo-Pacific region in 2025.
The first step of the aircraft carrier’s deployment has already been completed, which involved a fast jet squadron operating from the flight deck of a Royal Navy aircraft carrier for the first time in 15 years. Pilots from the newly formed 809 Naval Air Squadron (809 NAS) – supported by RAF Squadron 617, The Dambusters – have carried out several flight trials, with an 809 NAS F-35B Lightning Joint Strike Fighter conducting an operational sortie for the first time mid-year.
“Returning to sea marks the completion of a major support intervention, realising the availability improvement principles of Renown and setting a course for the wider class to follow,” Captain Mike Goodall, Type 45 team leader at DE&S, was quoted as saying in a DE&S press release.
Project Renown is a joint Royal Navy and DE&S endeavour to increase surface ship availability.
“The agility demonstrated by the support enterprise to deliver at pace ensures that HMS Dauntless remains on track to meet the demands of CSG25 [the navy’s 2025 carrier strike group deployment],” Capt Goodall added.
“With the drive to capture ship recertification and docked maintenance activity within shorter durations moving forwards, returning Dauntless to sea represents a significant milestone for the class and has given valuable learning to the ongoing Type 45 Total Availability Programme,” DE&S stated.
HMS Dauntless is the second of six Royal Navy Type 45 destroyers and was commissioned on 3 June 2010.
