Right from the beginning of the Type 45 project the comfort of the crew and the standard of their accommodation has been of primary importance.

The comfort of the crew

As an example, on previous generations of RN ships the sleeping areas for ratings also doubled up as their recreation space. But aboard Daring, all ranks will benefit from dedicated and spacious recreation areas with audio-visual entertainment, bar facilities and comfortable seating. These living areas will offer levels of comfort and amenity never before seen on the RN’s front-line warships. Furthermore, it will be possible to partition these areas in order that there can be TV areas separate from social and recreational areas, and a quiet zone for studying or reading.

Another first is the provision of a fitness centre. While many RN ships currently carry pieces of exercise equipment, Daring is the first vessel to have a dedicated multi-gym on board.

Accommodation has been designed to meet the latest RN standards, providing a significant increase in space for each crew member relative to existing warships. Cabins are of modular construction, fully carpeted and outfitted with wipe clean furniture. Berths are at least 1.97 metres long ( 6 ft 6 ins.) and 850 mm wide (2 ft 9 ins.). Junior rates will share six-berth cabins, while senior rates will occupy either single- or twin-berth cabins. Officers will have single-berth cabins, with officers under training sharing twin-berth accommodation. Provision will be made to berth about 235 personnel, although it is currently envisaged that the normal complement will be no more than 190. There will be appropriate provisions to allow for the embarkation of a 60-strong Royal Marines or Special Forces detachment, complete with their weapons, equipment and boats.

Daring has been designed for worldwide operations, therefore her heating, ventilation and air conditioning system has been designed to ensure crew comfort in temperature extremes from the Poles to the Gulf.

Staying fit

It is vital that Royal Navy crews can stay fit while they are at sea. Daring is the first RN warship to be designed with a dedicated fitness centre on board. The Crew can also stay fit by jogging around the flight deck where 16 laps will equal one mile.

The first gender neutral warship

The Type 45 is the first warship to be completely gender neutral. This reflects the greater diversity in serving personnel in the modern Navy.

The living quarters

Junior sailors can currently find themselves sharing a cabin with dozens of their colleagues. When Daring enters service her crew will have to share with, at the very most, 5 other sailors.

Daring will be the seventh RN ship to bear that name. Her distinctive crest recalls a young Roman soldier, Gaius Mucius, who was threatened with torture for trying to kill an enemy king. To prove he was not afraid he thrust his right hand into a brazier until it was completely burned. Read more about the history of Daring here: http://www.baesystems.com/type45/type45_5.htm

It is vital that Royal Navy crews can stay fit while they are at sea. Daring is the first RN warship to be designed with a dedicated fitness centre on board. The Crew can also stay fit by jogging around the flight deck where 16 laps will equal one mile.

HMS Daring’s weapon systems

HMS Daring’s main weapon will be the Principle Anti Air Missile System (PAAMS). This system will monitor the airspace for hundreds of miles around the fleet she is protecting and will ensure that no current or envisaged airborne threat will get through.