County-class
Summary
| Origin country | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom |
| Category | Destroyer |
| Subtype | Missile destroyer |
| Manufacturer | Cammell Laird, Swan Hunter, Vickers Armstrong |
| Year commissioned | 1962 |
| Units | 11 CAPITAN PRAT, 12 ALMIRANTE COCHRANE, 15 ALMIRANTE BLANCO ENCALADA |
Description
The County class was a series of British guided missile destroyers, conceived as the first warships of this kind for the Royal Navy. Designed with the nuclear age in mind, these ships had the specific mission of area air defense to protect aircraft carrier task forces against potential aerial attacks. Four were later sold to the Chilean Navy, while one was passed to the Pakistan Navy.
The origins of the County class date back to 1958 when the class was envisaged to replace larger cruisers with a cost-effective alternative. The design evolved from the Minotaur-class cruisers and was intended to encompass both destroyer and cruiser capabilities to accompany carrier forces or serve as flagships. The idea was to create a versatile platform capable of air defense, shore bombardment, and engagement with enemy ships, particularly in operations east of Suez. Louis Mountbatten's influence was decisive in the development of the Seaslug missile system around which the class was designed.
The design of the County class combined the aspects of a cruiser and destroyer, embodying larger dimensions than its Daring-class predecessors. Seaslug missiles were the primary armament, along with secondary armaments including twin 4.5-inch guns, twin 40mm Bofors, and single twin 3-inch guns. Initial plans included the carriage of nuclear-armed Seaslug missiles, which was later abandoned due to budgetary and practical concerns.
During its operational history, two ships from the class saw action in the Falklands War. Their experiences revealed both the utility and limitations of the design, particularly concerning the Seaslug missile's effectiveness and the challenges in operating onboard helicopters. However, the presence of County-class destroyers during the Indonesia-Malaysia confrontation in the 1960s underscored their strategic importance in projecting British naval power.
The County class served with the Royal Navy for relatively short careers averaging less than two decades. After decommissioning, some were modernized and saw extended service with the Chilean Navy, exemplifying their adaptability and serving beyond their initial operational context.
The construction program for the County class was distributed across various British shipyards, with key components produced by an array of British engineering firms. This distributed approach to shipbuilding represented the industrial capacity and resources committed to creating these Cold War-era naval assets.
In terms of costs, the County-class ships were subject to budget considerations throughout their development and refits. The initial envisioned cost per ship faced upwards revisions, and refits later in their service life were substantial financial investments. Disposal of the ships varied from scrapping and use as trial targets to serving as accommodation ships before the majority were sold to foreign navies.
Technical specifications
| County | |
|---|---|
| Displacement | 6200 tons |
| Range | 6000 km at 28 knots |
| Crew | 471 members |
| Width | 16.0 m (52.5 ft) |
| Length | 160.0 m (524.9 ft) |
| Propulsion | 4 English Electric G 6 gas turbines with a total power of 60,000 hp - 2 propellers |
| Thrust | 4750 hp |
| Armament | 4 MM-38 (I 4) + 2 Barak (VIII 2) + 2 114mm Mk.6 guns + 2 20mm Bofors guns + 6 T/ASM Mk.32 + 2 Cougar vehicles |
| Maximum speed | 30 knots |