16 October 2006

HMS Manchester leaves Devonport for sea trials

HMS Manchester left Devonport Royal Dockyard for sea trials on Saturday 14 October before returning to the fleet next month, following a successful third Docking Period (DP3) undertaken by DML, which marked several ‘firsts’ for a Type 42 destroyer and demonstrated a number of new enhanced efficiency initiatives and DML/MoD/ship’s staff teamwork in action.

The contract for Manchester’s docking period was won by DML in open competition last year, and included a series of system upgrades and constructive repairs.

The first Type 42 Destroyer docking period to be undertaken at Devonport (following many successful Type 42 refits by DML), it also marked a number of other firsts for a Type 42. These included the fitting of a modified design transom flap for improved fuel efficiency, the installation of new reverse osmosis plants for fresh water production, the full fit of the Surface Ship Torpedo Defence (SSTD) system for detection and countermeasures against hostile torpedoes, and the fitting a new anchor cable ramp for improved hauling and retrieval of the ship’s main anchor.

Other capability enhancements included the fitting of Bowman, the land forces to ship communications system, and insertion of the IT infrastructure to support the Navystar (NSSA) Defence Information Infrastructure (Future) [DII(F)], which will see numerous mission and business critical systems on the ship replaced with a single, more efficient infrastructure.

The habitability of the ship was also improved, with the fitting of acoustic noise insulation (particularly important to better living conditions on board) and upgrades to the mess areas, as well as the installation of new galley and laundry equipment, upgrades to domestic power supply systems, and the fitting of textile ducting to improve onboard ventilation systems.