Type 42 destroyer

Rare card · No. 73093

The Type 42 or Sheffield class was developed to provide the Royal Navy with a cost-effective, medium-sized guided-missile destroyer focused on fleet air defence. Conceived in the late 1960s after the cancellation of the more complex and expensive Type 82, the Type 42 was intended to protect naval task groups against airborne threats using the Sea Dart missile system. While the smaller design allowed for more ships to be built within budget constraints, it imposed compromises in endurance, sea-keeping, and space for future weapons or sensor upgrades. Over its 38 years of service, the class underwent three production batches that addressed some of the class's limitations by lengthening the hull, improving radar and missile systems, and adding close-in weapon systems. Two vessels, HMS Sheffield (D80) and HMS Coventry (D118), were lost in the 1982 Falklands War, prompting further modifications including enhanced damage control measures, updated electronic warfare suites and changes to material...

Read on Wikipedia · Image OS2 John Bouvia, U.S. Navy, Public domain