HMS Bristol (D23) - Weapon Systems

Weapon Systems

Bristol saw a number of new systems introduced into the Navy, including the Sea Dart and Ikara missile systems and was the first ship to carry the new 4.5 inch (113 mm) Mk 8 gun. Another new addition to the fleet was the advanced ADAWS-2 (Action Data Automated Weapons System Mk.2), a computer system designed to coordinate the ship's weapons and sensors. The latter feature, although not externally apparent, was perhaps one of the most pioneering of the new design. It was a leap forward from the rudimentary action information system of its predecessor the County-class destroyers with its heavy reliance on manual data input.

Sea Dart (GWS 30) system comprised a twin-arm launcher on the quarterdeck with a pair of radar Type 909 target illumination sets, an improvement over the single radar Type 901 set of the County design. The second weapon system was the Australian Ikara anti-submarine weapon. Ikara was a rocket-powered carrier that could deliver a small homing torpedo out to 10 miles (16 km) from the ship. The Ikara was backed up by a Mark 10 Limbo anti-submarine mortar.

The single Mark 8 114 mm gun was not intended as an anti-aircraft weapon, and as such had an elevation of only 55°. The weapon was designed specifically for reliability over rate of fire, allowing only a single mounting to be shipped, and the comparatively low rate of fire of 25 rounds per minute was more than suitable for the intended anti-ship and shore-bombardment roles. Bristol, although capable of landing a Westland Wasp helicopter on the quarterdeck, lacked a hangar and aviation facilities and thus had to rely on external air support.