The primary role of the Type 42 destroyers was providing air defense for the fleet. With their long-range sensors, the ships could also act as radar pickets, sailing ahead of a task group. HMS Southampton was the eighth ship originally destined to be a 16-ship class – two of these ships have been exported to Argentina. The type 42 comprised eight Batch 1 vessels, four Batch 2 and four Batch 3 Stretched Type 42.

Jantinus Mulder started his career in the graphic industry and is currently a publisher at Lanasta (Walburg Pers). He is a specialist in the model building of naval ships. He builds models, and has written about model building in various (trade) magazines and books.