April 2017. The Varna. Photo by N. Zlatev.

Country: United Kingdom.
Class, [Type]: Type 45, [DDG]
Homeport: Portsmouth.

Callsign: GPLA (     )

Builder: BAE Systems Naval Ships, Govan and Scotstoun on the River Clyde, U.K.
Laid down date: 28 March 2003.
Launch date: 1 February 2006.
Commission date: 23 July 2009.

Displacement ( tons ): 5900 standard, 7570 full load.
Dimensions ( metres ): 152,4 x 21,2 x 5,3.
Main machinery: 2 x RR WR21 gas turbines ( 28800 hp ), 2 x GE Power Conversion motors ( 27700 hp ).
Speed ( knots ): 31.
Range ( miles ): 7000 at 18 knots.
Complement: 191.

Guns: 1 x 1 114mm Mk8 Mod1, 2 x 6 GE/GD Vulcan Phalanx Mk15 Mod1b CIWS 20mm, 2 x 1 Oerlikon 30mm, 2 x 1 7,62 MGs.
Missiles: SSM: 2 x 4 Harpoon; SAM: 1 x 48-cell Sylver A50 VLS for a combination of 48: Aster 15, Aster 30 missiles.

Radars: Air: Type 1046; Air/Surface: Type 1045; Navigation: Type 1047, 1048.
Sonars: Ultra/EDO MFS-7000.
Countermeasures: Decoys: 4 x Sea Gnat; Surface ship torpedo defence; ESM/ECM: Type 675.
Helicopters: 2 x Lynx HMA8 or 1 x Merlin HM1.

Year of visit the Black Sea:  2017