HMS Daring Impresses

They may have trouble building submarines, but they certainly still know how to do surface ships right.

During four weeks of sea trials, Daring has achieved 31.5 knots - exceeding a target of 28 knots.

During final trials off the Western Isles yesterday Daring went through her paces smoothly, watched by the defence minister, Bob Ainsworth.

From a standing start she reached 29 knots in just 70 seconds and can come to a dead halt within 800 yards.

She can turn full circle within three ship lengths and has stealth technology that reduces the radar signature to that of a fishing boat.

"She's a beautiful ship to drive, like a souped-up Bentley with very smooth handling," said Lt-Cdr Phil Harper, the ship's navigator

It can also take 60 Special Forces troops, a large Chinook or Apache attack helicopters as well as Merlin anti-submarine helicopters.

The ship left American visitors to the yard on the Clyde "shaken and shocked", according to BAE Systems, its builders.

Considering the amount of fluff the author provides in the parts of the article I didn't post, I'm not sure if I buy that last comment. No matter how you look at it though, the first sea trials for HMS Daring has been a clear success. If the rest of the class follows suite, things might be looking up for a change for the Royal Navy.