Welcome to Defender’s homepage. The Royal Navy’s fifth Type 45 Destroyer or ‘D’ class built to provide area air defence. Defender and her sister vessels of the class are the largest and most powerful air defence destroyers ever operated by the Royal Navy and the largest general purpose surface warships (except aircraft carriers and amphibious ships) to join the fleet since WW2. Defender’s air defence capabilities are several orders greater than that provided by the Type 42 destroyers.
Defender built by BAE Systems Surface Ships in Govan shipyard on the river Clyde, was launched by Lady Julie Massey on 21st October 2009; the 204th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar..
Our motto is "Defendendo Vinco" (By Defence I Conquer)