August 24, 2007: The new British warship, the 7,400 ton
Daring, is currently undergoing sea trials. All is apparently going well, with
the ship exceeding specifications with regard to handling and sea keeping. But
what fascinates the crew the most are the living conditions. There is about 40
percent more living space for the crew of 192. On a more personal level, all
senior officers have single cabins, while junior officers have two-berth
cabins. Senior petty officers have single or two-berth cabins (depending on
rank), while the junior sailors have six-berth cabins. There are single bathrooms,
with showers. All this is particularly attractive to female sailors. In the
past, berthing areas often held two dozen or more bunks. But Daring is also the
first British warship to come with a gym. There are also Internet connections
and desk space in each cabin. Each of the dining rooms (mess spaces in
sailorspeak) has a large flat screen TV, with a DVD player and connection to
worldwide satellite TV.
The Darings are Type 45 class
destroyers, with a stealthy design and weapons and electronics similar to
American destroyers. But the smaller crew on the Daring is largely the result
of more automation, something the next class of U.S. destroyers are expected to
take advantage of as well. Daring's attention to crew comfort is considered a
trend showing up in all new warship construction. Sailors are increasingly
volunteers, and to fill the ranks, you have to improve living conditions aboard
ships.
