The Fleet Direction Escort
The Fleet Direction Escort (FADE) was another post-war specialised design looked at in depth from January 1946. The first idea was to convert either Daring or Battle Class destroyers to the new role. Work dragged on owing to lack of funds and indecsion over what equipment to fit on the ships. In 1948 it was decided to rebuild thr fast minealyer Abdiel but instead the sole surviving 4.5in armed Dido class cruiser Syclla was chosen for conversion. She emerged in late 1949 rearmed with two twin 3in/70 mounts and two twin Bofors 40mm/70. The radars included the standard fit of the type along with the Type 982 TIR and Type 983 height-finding radars. There was not enough space for a second Type 982 for a full double-end facility. Syclla served as a carrier escort until 1968.
The plans for a new-build FADE ships continued using the Daring as a basis as the FADE IIIF, the hull was flush decked and the armament was two 4.5in Mk VI and four STAAG. Single Squid was carried aft recessed into the hull.The electronic fit was as Syclla. Two ships were built during 1949-51.
In 1960-61 the Type 960P aerial search radars was replaced by a Type 965 AKE-2 array and two STAAG were replaced by the more modern semi-automatic 40mm twin. The other two were removed. Both FADE Darings were decommissioned in 1976.
The RN wanted more Darings and the FADE IIIF showed what could be acheived on a Daring hull. The four 'Super-Darings' were basically the FADE hull with armament weight taking up electronic weight. An extra 4.5in twin mount was carried forward, Limbo was added aft and two STAAG were replaced by standard twin 40mm mounts. Four fixed tubes were carried on either side for 'Fancy' anti-ship homing torpedoes. All four completed between 1951 and 1953. They decommissioned in 1970.
Eight Battles were converted as radar picket ships as 'Mini-FADEs' from the late 1950s with Type 965 radar and a new AIO. Some of them received newer 4.5in Mk VI mounts during thier refits. They served until the 1970-72 with the carrier fleet extending the radar-range of the fleet and they were data-linked to the FADE ships and the carriers by CDS.