Type 42 destroyer

	HMS Birmingham
Class overview
Name	Type 42
Builders	Vickers, Cammell-Laird, Swan Hunter, Vosper Thorneycroft, CFNE Argentina
Operators	Royal Navy (1975–2013); Argentine Navy (1976–2024);
Preceded by	Type 82 (UK); Py class (Argentina);
Succeeded by	Type 45 (UK); Almirante Brown class (Argentina);
Subclasses	Batches 1, 2 and 3
In service	1975–2013
Completed	16
Lost	UK: 2 (Falklands War)
Retired	14
General characteristics
Type	Guided-missile destroyer
Displacement	Batch 1 & 2:; 3,500 long tons (3,600 t) standard,; 4,100 long tons (4,200 t) or 4,350 tons full load; Batch 3:; 3,500 long tons (3,600 t) standard,; 4,775 long tons (4,852 t) or 5,350 tons full load;
Length	Batch 1 & 2:; 119.5 m (392 ft) waterline,; 125 m (410 ft) or 125.6 m (412 ft) overall; Batch 3:; 132.3 m (434 ft) waterline,; 141.1 m (463 ft) overall;
Beam	Batch 1 & 2: 14.3 m (47 ft); Batch 3: 14.9 m (49 ft);
Draught	Batch 1, 2 & 3:; 4.2 m (14 ft) keel,; 5.8 m (19 ft) propellers;
Decks	8
Installed power	50,000 shp (37 MW)
Propulsion	2 shafts COGOG;; 2 × Rolls-Royce Olympus TM3B high-speed gas turbines, (50,000 shp (37 MW)); 2 × Rolls-Royce Tyne RM1C cruise gas turbines, (5,340 shp (3.98 MW));
Speed	30 kn (56 km/h; 35 mph) (2 × Olympus); 24 kn (44 km/h; 28 mph) (1 × Olympus and 1 × Tyne per shaft); 20 kn (37 km/h; 23 mph) (1 × Olympus); 18 kn (33 km/h; 21 mph) (2 × Tyne); 13.8 kn (25.6 km/h; 15.9 mph) (1 × Tyne);
Range	4,200 nmi (7,800 km; 4,800 mi) single Tyne RM1C/other shaft trailing at 13.8 kn (25.6 km/h; 15.9 mph)
Complement	Batch 1 & 2: 253 (incl. 24 officers) or 274, accommodation for 312; Batch 3: 269 (2013); 301 (incl. 26 officers)(1993);
Sensors &; processing systems	Radar Type 1022/965P air surveillance,; Radar Type 996/992Q 3-D surveillance,; 2 × radar Type 909 GWS-30 fire-control,; Radar Type 1007 & 1008 navigation,; IFF 1016/1017,; Sonar Type 2050 / 2016 search,; Sonar Type 162 bottom profiling,;
Electronic warfare; & decoys	UAA2/UAF; DLH decoy system;
Armament	1 × twin launcher for GWS-30 Sea Dart missiles (22 missiles, space for an additional 15 in Batch 3); 1 × 4.5 inch Mark 8 naval gun; 2 × 20 mm Phalanx CIWS (after 1982, not on Argentine ships); 2 × Oerlikon / BMARC 20 mm cannon in GAM-B01 single mounts; 4 × MM38 Exocet anti-ship missile launchers (only on Argentine ships); 2 × STWS II triple anti-submarine torpedo tubes (not on Argentine ships);
Aircraft carried	1 × Westland Lynx HAS / HMA armed with; 4 × anti-ship missiles; 2 × anti-submarine torpedoes;
Aviation facilities	Flight deck and enclosed hangar for embarking one helicopter

The Type 42 or Sheffield class was developed to provide the Royal Navy with a cost-effective, medium-sized guided-missile destroyer focused on fleet air defence. Conceived in the late 1960s after the cancellation of the more complex and expensive Type 82, the Type 42 was intended to protect naval task groups against airborne threats using the Sea Dart missile system.

While the smaller design allowed for more ships to be built within budget constraints, it imposed compromises in endurance, sea-keeping, and space for future weapons or sensor upgrades. Over its 38 years of service, the class underwent three production batches that addressed some of the class's limitations by lengthening the hull, improving radar and missile systems, and adding close-in weapon systems.

Two vessels, HMS Sheffield (D80) and HMS Coventry (D118), were lost in the 1982 Falklands War, prompting further modifications including enhanced damage control measures, updated electronic warfare suites and changes to material used in the ships' furnishings. The class served as the backbone of Royal Navy air defence and demonstrated a trade-off between affordability and capability reflecting broader Royal Navy strategic priorities during the Cold War and post-Cold War periods, concluding in 2013 when they were replaced by the more capable Type 45 destroyer.

In addition to British service, two Type 42s were built for the Argentine Navy. These two ships saw limited service, few upgrades and were eventually retired.