The Type 82 was loosely based on the layout of the County-class destroyer and the Type 12 Leander-class frigate (hence the inclusion in the escort Type numbering system.)
The vessel was powered by a combined steam and gas (COSAG) plant, and was the last warship designed for the Royal Navy to be powered by steam. The steam plant vented through the large fore funnel while the gas plant exhausted though a side-by-side pair of after funnels (on either side of the extensive air intakes and filters for the gas turbines), giving rise to a unique three-funnelled layout.
Weapon systems
The new Sea Dart missile was fired from a twin-arm launcher on the quarterdeck and there was a pair of radar Type 909 target illumination sets, an improvement over the single radar Type 901 set of the County-class design.
The single Mark 8 114 mm gun was not intended as an anti-aircraft weapon, and as such had an elevation of only 55°. The weapon was designed specifically for reliability over rate of fire, allowing only a single mounting to be shipped, and the comparatively low rate of fire of 25 rounds per minute was more than suitable for the intended anti-ship and shore-bombardment roles.
The third weapon system was the Australian Ikara anti-submarine weapon; a rocket-powered aircraft capable of carrying a Mk.44 homing torpedo or nuclear depth bomb out to 10 miles from the ship. The Ikara primary anti-submarine weapon was backed up by a Mark 10 Limbo anti-submarine mortar. Although capable of landing a Westland Wasp helicopter on the quarterdeck the ship lacked a hangar and aviation facilities and thus had to rely on external air support.
Electronics
The original design called for a long range 3-D air search radar to be fitted, and early drawings and artist's impression show a large dome on the bridge to carry this set. A similar set was to be fitted to the CVA-01 design. However, the projected Anglo-Dutch system never materialised, and instead she was fitted with the venerable radar Type 965 air search radar, with a "twin bedstead" AKE-2 antennae, on a stump foremast. Radar Type 992Q low-angle search was carried on the tall, slender mainmast and as such the electronics fit had not advanced significantly from the County class. Type 909 sets were shipped fore and aft for Sea Dart fire control, allowing two targets to be engaged at any one time.
The main advance in the design was with how the sensor data was processed and displayed. The ADAWS-2 system, based on two Ferranti FM1600 computers, integrated the identification, tracking and engagement of targets into a single system. ADAWS-2 could accept input from any of the ship’s radars or sonars, identify targets and produce continuous track histories. Using this information it could evaluate threat levels and control the engagement of targets using the relevant weapons systems. The whole process occurred almost automatically, requiring only oversight and command from the human operator. This new generation of warship would be commanded from an operations room within the ship rather than the traditional location of the bridge.
Specifications
- Electronics:
- ADAWS-2 combat direction system
- 1 x radar Type 965 2D air warning, later;
- 1 x radar Type 1022 2D air search
- 1 x radar Type 992Q low-angle target indication
- 2 x radar Type 909 Sea Dart target illumination
- 1 x radar Type 978 (later 1006) navigation
- 1 x sonar Type 170 search
- 1 x sonar Type 184 target indication
Shortcomings
Despite introducing various new systems, the role for which Bristol was designed never materialised. She faced the problem of entering a navy that had no operational role or requirement for her and that was faced with rapidly changing priorities. This single, large ship was manpower- and maintenance-intensive and was not fitted out to the standard required for front line deployment.
The major shortcomings in the design were twofold; the lack of an air component and the lack of a long-range anti-ship weapon. Within a few years these features would be standard on ships of this size and type and as such the Type 82 was somewhat lacking. These deficiencies limited her to squadron (rather than individual patrol) duties, and Bristol is usually seen as something of a white elephant.
| Type 82 or Bristol-class destroyer | |
|---|---|
| Name: | Type 82 Destroyer |
| Builders: | Swan Hunter |
| Operators: |  |
| Preceded by: | County class |
| Succeeded by: | Type 42 |
| In commission: | 31 March 1973 - present |
| Planned: | 4 |
| Completed: | 1 |
| Cancelled: | 3 |
| Active: | 1 (as a cadet training ship) |
| Preserved: | 1 |
| General characteristics | |
| Displacement: | 6,000 tons |
| Length: | 154.53 m (507 ft) |
| Beam: | 16.76 m (55 ft) |
| Draught: | 7.5 m |
| Propulsion: | COSAG, 2 standard range geared steam turbines 30,000 hp, 2 Bristol Siddeley Olympus TM1A gas turbines 30,000 hp, 2 shafts, 2 boilers |
| Speed: | 28 kt (52 km/h) |
| Range: | 5,750 nautical miles (10,650 km) at 18 kt (33 km/h) |
| Complement: | 397(30 officers) |
| Electronic warfare and decoys: | UAA1 |
| Armament: | 4.5 in (114 mm) Vickers Mk.8 gun GWS 30 Sea Dart SAM Launcher (38 rounds + 10 additional warheads), Ikara A/S Launcher (at least 24 rounds) (removed 1984), Mark 10 Limbo A/S Mortar(removed 1979), 2 twin Oerlikon / BMARC GCM-A03 30 mm guns(from 1983-), 2 x Oerlikon / BMARC GAM-B01 20 mm guns(from 1983-), 2 x Oerlikon 20 mm guns(from 1979-). |
| Aviation facilities: | Flight deck |
