Under grey skies the second Type 45 destroyer was handed over by BAE Systems, having entered Portsmouth Harbour yesterday.

The blue ensign of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency was lowered, after the handover of the ship was signed in the Ward Room.

On the flight deck of the 7,000 tonne ship Vice Admiral Richard Ibbotson, Deputy Commander-in-Chief Fleet, said: 'The Royal Navy is looking forward to HMS Dauntless taking her place in the fleet with much anticipation and congratulates everyone involved in delivering her this far.'

Dauntless follows HMS Daring, which arrived in Portsmouth in January, and is the second of six ships which will be based in the city for the next 30 years.

Quentin Davies, Minister for Defence Equipment and Support, said: 'The six Type 45s will be the largest and most powerful destroyers ever operated by the Royal Navy.'

Dauntless is due to join the fleet in a year's time, after testing of her yet to be installed Sea Viper missile system.