§ Dr. Julian LewisTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what increase in capability would result from the upgrading of the gun turret on a Type 45 destroyer to house(a) a 127 mm and (b) a 155 mm gun, instead of a standard 115mm gun. [158141]
§ Mr. Ingram[holding answer 4 March 2004]: The overall capability offered by the Type 45 destroyer's gun is not related simply to the calibre of the barrel, but to the ammunition which could be used.
The standard 115 mm (4/") gun is capable of delivering conventional munitions to a range of up to 27 km. 127 mm and 155 mm guns would be capable of firing munitions to a range of 75–80 k m. They would also be capable of firing modern guided munitions and, in the case of the 155 mm gun, these would be considerably heavier than the 115 mm gun's conventional munitions.
The design of the Type 45 includes space and weight margins which would allow for the fitting of an improved Medium Range Gun, should such a requirement emerge. There is no such requirement at present. In the case of a 155 mm gun, this would also depend on the maturity of its technology, as there are no such naval guns yet in service world-wide.
§ Mr. HancockTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the expected decommissioning dates are of(a) HMS Newcastle, (b) HMS Cardiff, (c) HMS Glasgow, (d) HMS Liverpool, (e) HMS Norfolk and (f) HMS Iron Duke. [160772]
§ Mr. IngramThe present decommissioning dates for each ship are as follows.50W
Decommissioning dates HMS Newcastle 2007 HMS Cardiff 2008 HMS Glasgow 2009 HMS Liverpool 2009 HMS Norfolk 2014 HMS Iron Duke 2020
§ Mr. HancockTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the Type-42 destroyers to be fitted with the Warship Electronic Chart Display and Information System. [160773]
§ Mr. IngramThe Warship Electronic Chart Display and Information System (WECDIS) will be fitted to the following Type 42 Destroyers: HMS Exeter, HMS Liverpool, HMS Nottingham, HMS Southampton, HMS Edinburgh, HMS Gloucester, HMS Manchester and HMS York.