HMS Swiftsure (S126)

Last updated

History
Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svgUnited Kingdom
NameHMS Swiftsure
Ordered3 November 1967
Builder Vickers
Laid down6 June 1969
Launched7 September 1971
Commissioned17 April 1973
Decommissioned1992
Identification Pennant number: S126
FateDecommissioned
Badge HMS Swiftsure crest.jpg
General characteristics
Class and type Swiftsure-class submarine
Displacement4,900 tonnes (dived)
Length82.9 m (272 ft 0 in)
Beam9.8 m (32 ft 2 in)
Draught8.5 m (27 ft 11 in)
SpeedIn excess of 20 knots (37 km/h), dived
Complement116 officers and men
Armament

HMS Swiftsure was the lead ship of her class of nuclear fleet submarines built for the Royal Navy. Entering service in 1973, she served until 1992.

Contents

Construction and design

Swiftsure was ordered on 3 November 1967, as the first of her class, and laid down at Vickers Armstrongs Barrow-in-Furness shipyard on 6 June 1969. She was launched on 7 September 1971 and commissioned on 17 April 1973. The cost of building Swiftsure was £37.1 million. [1] [2]

Service

Swiftsure became famous for her mission to acquire the acoustic signature of the Soviet aircraft carrier Kiev. Upon locating a new unique acoustic sound that indicated the Kiev's presence, hid underneath her for several hours, with her raised periscope just 10 feet (3.0 m) under the aircraft carrier's hull, allowing the crew of Swiftsure to take photographs and record the aircraft carrier's acoustic signature. [3] This was documented in 2013 as part of the BBC's Cold War season. [4]

Swiftsure arrived in HMNB Devonport in January 1979 for her first scheduled refit. However, due to an industrial dispute [5] the refit did not begin until April 1980, 15 months after the boat arrived into Devonport. Despite a statement in the House of Commons in mid-November 1981 that the refit would be completed by mid-1982 [6] Swiftsure's refit was eventually completed in March 1983, at a total cost of £85 million. [7]

Swiftsure was due to enter a second refit in 1992, but instead she was decommissioned that year. The reason for the premature decommissioning is often cited as pressure hull damage suffered during sea trials although that is now thought to be incorrect; it is believed the reason for the boat's premature decommissioning was due to the finding of cracks in her reactor during a refit. Her nuclear core was safely removed in June 1992.

Since 1992, she has been stored afloat in the non-tidal basin at Rosyth dockyard, awaiting dismantling under MoD's Submarine Dismantling Project (SDP). She has undergone periodic dockings for re-preservation and maintenance inspections, the latest from August 2016 onwards. She will be the first, or 'demonstrator' submarine to undergo Initial Dismantling through the SDP. [7] [8] As of 2023, it was reported that the process would take until the end of 2026 to complete. [9]

Related Research Articles

The Resolution class was a class of four nuclear ballistic missile submarines (SSBN) built for the Royal Navy as part of the UK Polaris programme. Each submarine was armed with up to 16 UGM-27 Polaris A-3 nuclear missiles.

<i>Swiftsure</i>-class submarine 1973 class of British nuclear submarines

The Swiftsure class was a class of nuclear-powered fleet submarines in service with the Royal Navy from the early 1970s until 2010.

<i>Trafalgar</i>-class submarine 1983 class of British attack submarines

The Trafalgar class is a class of nuclear-powered fleet submarines (SSNs) in service with the Royal Navy, and the successor to the Swiftsure class. Like the majority of Royal Navy nuclear submarines, all seven boats were constructed at Barrow-in-Furness shipyard, Cumbria. With only one boat remaining active and in commission and six retired from the seven originally in service, the class makes up part of the Royal Navy's nuclear-powered ‘hunter-killer’ submarine force. The Trafalgar class has nearly been replaced by the larger and more capable Astute class, of which five are commissioned.

<i>Invincible</i>-class aircraft carrier Royal Navy aircraft carrier class

The Invincible class was a class of light aircraft carrier operated by the Royal Navy. Three ships were constructed: HMS Invincible, HMS Illustrious and HMS Ark Royal. The vessels were built as aviation-capable anti-submarine warfare (ASW) platforms to counter the Cold War North Atlantic Soviet submarine threat, and initially embarked Sea Harrier aircraft and Sea King HAS.1 anti-submarine helicopters. With cancellation of the aircraft carriers renewal programme in the 1960s, the three ships became the replacements for Ark Royal and Eagle fleet carriers and the Centaur-class light fleet carriers, and the Royal Navy's sole class of aircraft carrier.

HMS <i>Hermes</i> (R12) 1959 Centaur-class light fleet carrier of the Royal Navy

HMS Hermes was a conventional British aircraft carrier and the last of the Centaur class.

HMS <i>Splendid</i> (S106) Swiftsure-class nuclear-powered fleet submarine of the Royal Navy

HMS Splendid was a Royal Navy nuclear-powered fleet submarine of the Swiftsure class. From commissioning in 1979 to her decommission in 2004 she took part in many operations involving British forces around the globe.

HMS <i>Resolution</i> (S22) 1967 Resolution-class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine of the Royal Navy

HMS Resolution (S22) was the first of the Royal Navy's Resolution-class ballistic missile submarines. She operated from 1968 until 1994 providing the UK Polaris at sea nuclear deterrent.

INS <i>Viraat</i> Centaur-class aircraft carrier of the Indian Navy

INS Viraat was a Centaur-class light aircraft carrier of the Indian Navy. INS Viraat was the flagship of the Indian Navy until INS Vikramaditya was commissioned in 2013. The ship was completed and commissioned in 1959 as the Royal Navy's HMS Hermes, and decommissioned in 1984. She was sold to India in 1987. INS Viraat was commissioned into the Indian Navy on 12 May 1987, and served for almost 30 years.

<i>Centaur</i>-class aircraft carrier Royal Navy aircraft carrier class

The Centaur class aircraft carrier was the final iteration of the 1942 Design Light Fleet Carrier developed by the United Kingdom for the Royal Navy during the Second World War. They were designed in 1943 to operate higher-performance aircraft than the preceding Majestic-class aircraft carrier. Four ships were laid down in 1944-1945 and completed in 1953-1959. Rapid developments in carrier warfare and technology overtook the ships even as they were under construction, and the associated costs of modernization led to ships being completed to different specifications. Only the last ship, HMS Hermes (R12), was fitted as a modern fixed-wing carrier; she was also the last of the class to retire in 2017 as INS Viraat.

HMS <i>Turbulent</i> (S87) Trafalgar-class nuclear-powered attack submarine of the Royal Navy

HMS Turbulent is a retired Trafalgar-class submarine of the Royal Navy and the second vessel of her class. Turbulent was the fifth vessel, and second submarine, of the Royal Navy to bear this name. She was built by Vickers Shipbuilding, Barrow-in-Furness, and based at HMNB Devonport. She was commissioned in 1984 and decommissioned in July 2012. She was stripped of equipment and now awaits dismantling in number 3 Basin at Devonport.

HMS <i>Tireless</i> (S88) Trafalgar-class nuclear-powered attack submarine of the Royal Navy

HMS Tireless was the third Trafalgar-class nuclear submarine of the Royal Navy. Tireless is the second submarine of the Royal Navy to bear this name. Launched in March 1984, Tireless was sponsored by Sue Squires, wife of Admiral 'Tubby' Squires, and commissioned in October 1985.

HMS <i>Torbay</i> (S90) Trafalgar-class nuclear-powered attack submarine of the Royal Navy

HMS Torbay is a decommissioned Trafalgar-class nuclear submarine of the Royal Navy and the fourth vessel of her class. Torbay was the fifth vessel and the second submarine of the Royal Navy to be named after Torbay in Devon, England. The first vessel was the 80-gun second rate HMS Torbay launched in 1693.

HMS <i>Superb</i> (S109) Swiftsure-class nuclear-powered fleet submarine of the Royal Navy

HMS Superb was a nuclear-powered fleet submarine of the Swiftsure class serving in the Royal Navy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rosyth</span> Port town in Scotland

Rosyth is a town and Garden City in Fife, Scotland, on the coast of the Firth of Forth.

HMS <i>Dreadnought</i> (S101) Submarine of the Royal Navy

The seventh Royal Navy ship to be named HMS Dreadnought was the United Kingdom's first nuclear-powered submarine, built by Vickers Armstrongs at Barrow-in-Furness. Launched by Queen Elizabeth II on Trafalgar Day 1960 and commissioned into service with the Royal Navy in April 1963, she continued in service until 1980. The submarine was powered by a S5W reactor, a design made available as a direct result of the 1958 US–UK Mutual Defence Agreement.

The fifth HMS Sceptre is a Swiftsure-class submarine built by Vickers in Barrow-in-Furness. She was launched in 1976, with a bottle of cider against her hull. She was commissioned on 14 February 1978, by Lady Audrey White. She was the tenth nuclear fleet submarine to enter service with the Royal Navy. She was decommissioned on 10 December 2010, at which time she was the oldest commissioned vessel in the Royal Navy still available for service; in total around 1,500 men served aboard during her commission. In theory, she is replaced by the first Astute-class submarine in service, HMS Astute.

<i>Churchill</i>-class submarine 1970 class of British fleet submarines

The three Churchill class, sometimes known as the Repeat Valiant-class submarines were nuclear-powered fleet submarines which served with the Royal Navy from the 1970s until the early 1990s. The Churchill class was based on the older Valiant class, but featured many internal improvements.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Commander-in-Chief Fleet</span>

The Commander-in-Chief Fleet (CINCFLEET) was the admiral responsible for the operations of the ships, submarines and aircraft of the British Royal Navy from 1971 until April 2012. The post was subordinate to the First Sea Lord, the professional head of the Naval Service. In its last years, as the Navy shrank, more administrative responsibilities were added.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rosyth Dockyard</span> Naval dockyard

Rosyth Dockyard is a large naval dockyard on the Firth of Forth at Rosyth, Fife, Scotland, owned by Babcock Marine, which formerly undertook refitting of Royal Navy surface vessels and submarines. Before its privatisation in the 1990s it was formerly the Royal Naval Dockyard Rosyth. Its primary role now is the dismantling of decommissioned nuclear submarines. It is also the integration site for the Royal Navy's newest aircraft carriers, the Queen Elizabeth class as well as the Type 31 Frigate.

In 1989 the Royal Navy was under the direction of the Navy Department in the UK Ministry of Defence. It had two main commands, CINCFLEET and Naval Home Command.

References

  1. ↑ Moore 1985, p. 616.
  2. ↑ "Swiftsure (S126)". Submariners Association, Barrow-in-Furness Branch. Archived from the original on 16 December 2013. Retrieved 14 June 2014.
  3. ↑ Sweeting, Adam (6 December 2013). "The Silent War, BBC Two: Strange secrets from the invisible underwater struggle waged by three navies". theartsdesk.com. Retrieved 14 June 2014.
  4. ↑ "The Silent War". BBC. Retrieved 14 June 2014.
  5. ↑ "Royal Dockyards Industrial Disputes (1979)". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard) . House of Lords. 13 November 1979. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
  6. ↑ "Devonport Dockyard (1981)". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard) . Written Answers. 18 November 1981. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
  7. 1 2 "Swiftsure".
  8. ↑ Nuclear Submarines:Written question - 51442, Parliament of the United Kingdom, 4 November 2016.
  9. ↑ @NavyLookout (9 August 2023). "ex-HMS Swiftsure dry-docked in Rosyth to begin preparations for final dismantling. Swiftsure is being used as a demonstrator and will be the first UK nuclear-powered submarine to be fully dismantled by the end of 2026" (Tweet). Retrieved 9 August 2023– via Twitter.

Publications

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.