Royal Navy’s Type 45 Destroyers To Undergo Refits Amid Reliability Concerns

The UK Defense ministry has confirmed that the Royal Navy’s Type 45 destroyers, which are considered the most modern warships, will undergo major refits amid concern over their reliability.

The move follows reports of persistent problems with the engines and power systems on the ships.

The technical faults, initially described by the Ministry as a short-term problem, will require engineers to bore holes in the sides of the six £1bn Type 45 destroyers to add new generators.

"The Type 45 destroyers are hugely capable ships and have consistently made a difference to our safety and security," a Ministry of Defence (MoD) spokesman said. "In our defence review last year we committed to improving the Type 45's power and propulsion system through a series of machinery upgrades during planned maintenance, which will ensure increased availability and resilience over the life of the ships".

The work will be staggered over a period of years so some ships remain available for operational commitments at all times.

The BBC reported that an email by a Royal Navy officer has described faults on the ships which say – “total electric failures are common".

In 2014, HMS Dauntless had to abandon a training exercise and in 2009 HMS Daring lost power in the Atlantic on her first voyage to the US.