BEGINNING life in a new home is HMS Dauntless, the second of Britain’s next-generation destroyers which was successfully launched on the Clyde last week.

The lengthy task of fitting out the Type 45 warship has begun at BAE Systems’ Scotstoun yard… a short distance along the river from the firm’s Govan yard, where she was built and launched.

Lady Burnell-Nugent, the wife of Commander-in-Chief Fleet Admiral Sir James Burnell-Nugent performed the honours on a bitterly-cold Glaswegian afternoon, pressing the button which sent Dauntless into the waters of the Clyde.

Hundreds of school children cheered, while an estimated 8,000 people were lining the banks of the river to watch the occasion.

Also watching the spectacle was Cdr Giuian Hill, Dauntless’ Senior Naval Officer – and the first member of her ship’s company.

The £500m Dauntless has now joined her sister Daring at Scotstoun; the latter was launched a year ago and is nearing the end of her fitting out phase ahead of trials at sea this summer.

Six of a possible eight Type 45 destroyers have been ordered by Whitehall. Each ship can track and – more importantly – destroy incoming missiles as small as cricket balls moving at Mach 3.