HMS Daring (D32) is the lead ship of the Type 45 or Daring-class air-defence destroyers built for the Royal Navy, launched in 2006 on the River Clyde. Constructed by BAE Systems Naval Ships at Govan and later moved to Scotstoun, her construction began in March 2003. She was launched on 1 February 2006, with the Countess of Wessex as her sponsor, who also participated in her commissioning ceremony on 23 July 2009. As the first of her class since the 1970s, Daring measures approximately 152.4 meters in length with a displacement of around 8,500 tons. Her design emphasizes advanced air-defence capabilities, featuring the Sea Viper missile system, which she successfully fired for the first time in May 2011. She is equipped with a 4.5-inch Mark 8 naval gun and two Phalanx CIWS mounts for close-in protection. Her maximum speed exceeds 29 knots, reaching up to 31.5 knots during trials. Daring's service record includes several significant deployments. Her maiden operational mission commenced in January 2012 when she departed Portsmouth for the Persian Gulf, relieving HMS Argyll. During this deployment, she participated in Operation Scimitar Anzac, an anti-piracy campaign in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, acting as the command ship for multinational vessels. She also operated alongside U.S. Navy Carrier Strike Groups in the region. In September 2013, Daring transited the Panama Canal en route to the Pacific, visiting ports across the US, Asia, and participating in the Royal Australian Navy’s International Fleet Review and Exercise Bersama Lima. Notably, she was dispatched urgently to the Philippines in response to Typhoon Haiyan. Daring has also conducted missile testing, including an Aster 30 launch off Scotland in July 2016. After a period laid up from 2017 to 2020, she underwent a major refit starting in June 2020, including the installation of new generators under the Power Improvement Project, completed by the end of 2022. Her maritime significance lies in her role as a modern, versatile air-defence destroyer, capable of operating globally across multiple combat and humanitarian missions.

This description has been generated using GPT-4.1-NANO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.