DUNCAN Up and Running – the last Type 45 Destroyer DUNCAN now has a full ship’s company with the vessel due to arrive in Portsmouth in March 2013.   Not all of the crew on the DUNCAN are onboard as some are dispersed among the other members of the class for familiarisation.   The DUNCAN in the final stages of fitting out at BAE’s Scotstoun yard following two spells of sea trials last year.

The destroyer takes her name from Admiral Adam Duncan, 1st Viscount Duncan of Camperdown, who routed the Dutch fleet in the North Sea in 1797; the tactics he used are believed to have inspired Nelson’s actions eight years later at Trafalgar.    Seven ships have been named DUNCAN the first being an East Indiaman, the CARRON purchased upon completion in 1804 and the fourth ship of the name was a Battleship launched in 1901, lead ship of a class that saw action against German installations on the Belgian coast during World War I, and sold in 1920.      In 1932 a new D class Destroyer, which was scrapped in 1945.    The previous DUNCAN was a Type 14 Frigate in service from 1957 until 1985.

Of the Type 45 Destroyers the status is :

            DARING - just emerged from maintenance

            DAUNTLESS - recently back from deployment

            DIAMOND – recently back from deployment

            DRAGON – shortly to make a maiden deployment

            DEFENDER – completing trials and training - ahead of her commissioning on March 2013.