HMS Daring: Can I have my money back, please?

[benjenbav]

HMS Daring was out playing in the Channel yesterday. I remembered that:

"The most distinctive design point of Daring is her sleekly designed straight edges and superstructure free from clutter. This is designed to give the ship a low radar cross section - commonly called stealth features. Speculation by the press suggests that this design gives the ship the radar signature of a fishing boat."

From Wiki (so it must be true).

Oh really?

Here's a visual:

And here she is on radar: (just outside the first ring - 0.75nm)

Given that I was seeing her stern it looked a pretty normal radar signature to me, quite comparable with the object 0.5 nm astern which was a cross channel ferry.

Still a great looking ship though.

 

[jfm]

Hardly stealth! What were the three targets off your stbd bow, at 1.5nm and 2nm? They are more elongated targets, so would be interesting to compare them. Were they big ships, broadside?

 

[kingfisher]

One would assume that the MOD would use radar reflectors in peace time, and then "cloak" the ship when the excrement hits the fan?

 

[maxi77]

To be blunt they don't care a stuff if you can see them from 0.5M what they are really interested in is being able to see their real targets before they can see them.

Stealth is an interesting area, but like all these things you have to specify the problem you are interested in and hiding from you doesn't figure that highly in their list of priorities.

 

[nimbusgb]

Seen stern on your radar is looking at the hangar doors, helicopters and deck hardware. One presumes that the intention is that when she leaves you behind her you are no longer in a position to be a threat. Possibly to the extent that your radome may well be the only thing left afloat and the display for attached radar is rapidly filling with water. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif


As someone else has said I think the stealth intent is head or beam on.

 

[benjenbav]

The three targets off the stbd bow at 1.5 -2 NM were largish container ships, broadside on.

As others have said, I'm certain that the only bit left of me and my boat would have been my winning smile if Daring's commander had detected any hostile intent. I was just a bit disappointed that stealth didn't mean that the whole ship was invisible to the radar.

I should, of course, apologise for the quality of the pictures - I only had my BlackBerry with me.

 

[benjenbav]

10 minutes before I took those pictures, Daring was broadside on to me at reasonably close range - I kept at least 500m away - especially when I noticed the matelots moving towards the forward guns (joke). There was a substantial radar signature at that point.

 

[timtap]

Just a Question ... If you headed straight for HMS Daring at speed, would your radar signature of it increase as it's weaponary target detection systems locked onto your vessel ?

 

[benjenbav]

I think that's when the only bit of the leisure boat left floating is the remnants of the radome. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[andyc]

Would you like cash or discount in January?Id take the cash as the coffers might be empty by then.

 

[bobgoode]

The stealth aspect would not be from the point of view of another vessel but that of an aircraft. Try flying above her and see what sort of return you get then.

 

[Its_Only_Money]

[ QUOTE ]
The stealth aspect would not be from the point of view of another vessel but that of an aircraft.

[/ QUOTE ]

Indeed, her main armament is anti-air so it stands to reason stealth vs airborne rader is a primary concern. From the slope of her upperworks though they are intended to reflect radar returns up and away from sea-level signals too.