Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 32:40-33:51

HMAS Vampire as the surviving Daring-class comparison

HMAS Vampire offers a preserved postwar Daring-class counterpart to earlier destroyer designs such as HMCS Haida.

Daring Class Destroyers (1949)DestroyersHMAS VampireMuseum ShipsPostwar Naval Design
Watch at this timeFull video guide
Question

Which preserved Australian warship is Clarke most eager to visit, and why?

Short answer

HMAS Vampire, because it is the last surviving Daring-class destroyer and offers a postwar comparison with HMCS Haida.

Notes

Clarke chooses HMAS Vampire as the Australian museum ship he most wants to visit. The surviving Daring-class destroyer offers a postwar comparison with HMCS Haida, which he enjoyed visiting in Canada. Haida represents the prewar attempt at this kind of destroyer, while Vampire shows how the design developed after the Second World War. The comparison draws particular attention to the later ship's size.