County-class

The County class consisted of eight guided missile destroyers constructed for the Royal Navy in two batches between 1959 and 1970. The design originated in the late 1950s as a requirement for a fleet escort capable of area air defense. Although designated as destroyers for political and budgetary reasons, the vessels were comparable in size to light cruisers and included facilities for flagship duties. The class was intended to operate within aircraft carrier task forces, with a focus on maintaining capabilities in a nuclear-war environment.

The ships were built around the Seaslug surface-to-air missile system, which required a large horizontal magazine located above the waterline. Internal layouts included an operations room positioned deep within the hull to provide protection against nuclear fallout. Propulsion was provided by a combined steam and gas (COSAG) system. While Batch 1 ships relied on manual data processing, Batch 2 vessels incorporated the Action Data Automation Weapon System (ADAWS) and updated radar suites. These ships were the first Royal Navy vessels to carry multiple types of guided missiles simultaneously. Batch 2 ships were later modified to include Exocet anti-ship missiles in place of a forward gun turret. Aviation facilities included a flight deck and a fixed hangar for a Westland Wessex helicopter.

In the 1960s, the class was deployed during the Indonesia-Malaysia confrontation to project power. Two vessels, HMS Antrim and HMS Glamorgan, saw active service during the 1982 Falklands War. HMS Antrim served as the flagship for the task force that recaptured South Georgia. During this operation, its embarked helicopter participated in the attack on the submarine ARA Santa Fe. HMS Glamorgan provided naval gunfire support to ground forces until it was struck by a land-based Exocet missile, which destroyed its hangar and helicopter.

Following their Royal Navy service, five vessels were transferred to other nations. HMS London was sold to the Pakistan Navy in 1982 as PNS Babur, where it operated as a training and patrol ship. Four Batch 2 vessels were sold to the Chilean Navy between 1982 and 1987. The Chilean Navy implemented modifications to these ships, including the removal of the Seaslug system to accommodate larger helicopter facilities and the installation of different surface-to-air missile systems. The class remained in Chilean service until the final vessel was decommissioned in 2006.