A hi-tech Royal Navy destroyer which is affiliated to Great Yarmouth was formally commissioned yesterday.The �1bn HMS Dauntless, a type 45 destroyer, was commissioned in front of Yarmouth mayor Michael Jeal at the Portsmouth naval base.

A hi-tech Royal Navy destroyer which is affiliated to Great Yarmouth was formally commissioned yesterday.

The �1bn HMS Dauntless, a type 45 destroyer, was commissioned in front of Yarmouth mayor Michael Jeal at the Portsmouth naval base.

Last month the vessel, which has a crew of 190, was officially affiliated to the resort when its commanding officer Captain Richard Powell took part in a ceremony at Yarmouth town hall.

The links between the town and the ship is expected to last 30 years and the destroyer is due to visit its adopted home in October.

At yesterday's commissioning Capt Powell said: “The type 45 destroyer represents the cutting edge of air defence and propulsion technology and reflects the excellence of British manufacturing.

“The ship is able to deal not only with today's threats but most importantly tomorrow's and will be a key element of the 21st century Royal Navy.”

HMS Dauntless will be one of a fleet of six type 45s, which have a range of 7,000 miles and operate the Sea Viper missile system.

The ships are replacing the aging type 42 destroyers and have the latest stealth technology.

HMS Dauntless was launched in 2007 at the BAE System's Govan shipyard in Glasgow.