The engines of the £1 billion Type 45 destroyers fail in warm water
– Taxpayers to foot bill to fix £1bn warships that break down when water becomes too warm:
TAXPAYERS will foot the bill to fix warships that break down when the water becomes too warm because they are ‘out of warranty’.
Innovative gas turbine engines driving the six £1 billion Type 45 destroyers in the Persian Gulf are known to fail and “degrade catastrophically” in very warm seas. A representative of engine manufacturers Rolls-Royce told the committee last month that the conditions in the Gulf were “far more arduous” than the specifications detailed by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) in its contract.The intercooler units, which recycle heat from the exhaust, slow down in warm waters, leaving the engine unable to generate enough power. Defence Minister Harriett Baldwin told the House of Commons Defence Committee: “There comes a point where, in plain English, the warranty runs out.”
The MoD will have to accept responsibility for the repairs because the failure is not covered by the guarantee. First Sea Lord Admiral Sir Philip Jones said: ”The MoD will be funding the modifications to Type 45s. Industry will not be funding that. Contractually, from the original position all liabilities and warranties are not connected to the modification package that is now being designed.
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H/t reader kevin a.
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