Swiftsure class nuclear powered
attack submarines
1. Swiftsure class submarines in service or undergoing maintenance
All operational Swiftsure class submarines are based at Faslane.
HMS Superb
In refit at Rosyth Dockyard from
August 94 to April 98, when it was rededicated, prior to returning to Faslane.
CO, Cmdr Humphries said: "in blue water warfare terms this platform is more
currently more capable than a first-generation T-boat; Trafalgar and Turbulent
would have a slight edge on us, but it's fractional." (the two named T class
had undergone their first refit and been updated).
Berthed at Faslane during late April 98.
It had problems at sea during April 1999 off the West coast of Scotland, MoD
said problem had no nuclear implications.
Used in Area Capability Training in October / November 1999 in West of UK and
Minches.
Deployed to the American Undersea Testing and Evaluatoin Centre in the Bahamas
in April 2000.
Berthed at Faslane in late July 2000. Rolls Royce and Associates boxes were
alongside in July indicating reactor work.
Superb has been withdrawn from operational service because of a potential reactor
fault (Daily Telgraph 8/9/00)
It has been berthed at Faslane from July to October 2000.
Signs of "Tireless" fault found, 1 Nov 00
Carrying out trials at sea in summer 2001.
Deployed to the Gulf with Argonaut task force which left UK in early September
2001 in support of operations in Afghanistan. (not cruise capable)
Listed as operational in November 2001
In January 2002 it was revealed that there was concern that Superb could have
the same problem as Sceptre as it had a similar reactor design. However a safety
case had been made for it to return to duty, pending a further inspection later
in 2002.
Devonport dockyard are due to upgrade communications systems on Suberb at Faslane
over a three week period (reported in March 2004)
Had been in service for 29 years by January 2005
Fully operational in July 2005.
Suez canal 13 & 19 July 2006 (seawaves.com)
Suez canal 9 August 2006 (seawaves.com)
Suez canal 5 October 2006 (Seawaves.com)
Faslane 18 October 2006 (Seawaves.com)
Returned to Clyde on 17 October 2006 at the end of a 113 day deployment; returned initially to Coulport to offload weapons before moving round to Faslane (Superb website)
This deployment included support of surface ships off Lebanon in July 2006; also visited Diego Garcia and then deployed to the Gulf area (Navy News November 2006)
In March 2002 an official statement said that Superb would be be decommissioned in 2006; subsequent statements in January 2004 and March 2005 said that it would be decommisioned in 2008.
HMS Sceptre
Returned suddenly to Faslane from
sea in August 1995, reported as a radiation leak.
Took part in trials at AUTEC, Bahamas, with HMS Marlborough, in May 1996.
Boarded by wimmin peace protesters 22 Jul 96.
In Feb 97 the former cryptographic officer on HMS Sceptre was severely reprimanted
at a court martial for keeping top secret codes in his locker.
On 4th May 97 the Defence Secretary George Robertson awarded the refit contract
for Sceptre to Rosyth dockyard.
There was a serious accident in early March
2000 when the submarine broke free from its mooring and shot forward 30
feet inside the dock at Rosyth.
The refit was scheduled to be completed in June 2000. Recommissioned in Rosyth
on 1st July 2000.
Sceptre was still listed as in refit on 11 July 2000.
A defect in the reactor was discovered
on Sceptre in 1998 early in its refit. The full seriousness of the problem was
not appreciated until mid 2000 (Daily Telegraph 8/9/00).
Still in Rosyth in October 2000
Reported that Sceptre may be scrapped because the reactor problem found in 1998
was not properly repaired (Herald)
MoD claim that clear of "Tireless" fault, 1 Nov 00.
In January 2002 the Defence Minister Adam Ingram admitted that the problem on
Sceptre wass "small original fabrication imperfections" in the Reactor
Pressure Vessel. Despite a refit already extended by 18 months the Minister
said that the MoD could not accurately say how long it would take to inspect
and repair the problem.
Sailed from Rosyth in March or April 2003.
Had been in service for 27 years by January 2005.
Not fully operational in July 2005 because it was about to start a maintenance and upgrade period Upgrade included adding capability to launch cruise missiles (Sceptre website)
After extended maintenance package, passed Safety Assessment and returned to sea, 18 July 2006 (Sceptre website)
After summer break for crew, preparing for final operational workup assessments before Sceptre becomes a deployable fleet asset, 17 August 2006 (Sceptre website)
In Faslane 23 August 2006 (Sceptre website)
In Plymouth Sound 17 & 19 September 2006 (Seawaves.com)
In March 2002 an official statement said that Sceptre would be decommissioned in 2010. This was repeated in subsequent statements in January 2004 and March 2005.
2. Swiftsure class which have been decommissioned.
HMS Sovereign
Had previously been in Rosyth dockyard for several years on a very long refit and was rededicated in Jan 97.
Berthed at Faslane in August 1997. Used during nuclear accident Short Sermon on 18/20 November 1997.
Cracks discovered in tail shaft during post refit sea trials. Probably not operational since refit. Sent to Rosyth for 14 week emergency repair in June 1998. Then returned to Faslane.
Used for submarine command course (Perisher) in June 1999 in Scottish waters.
Used in Area Capability Training in June 1999 in West of UK and Minches.
Fire on board at Faslane in early March 2000.
In NATO exercise Linked Seas in May 2000 in the Bay of Biscay.
Used for submarine command course (Perisher) in May / June 2000 in Scottish waters.
Used in Area Capability training in June 2000 in West of UK and Minches.
Sovereign in the oldest submarine in service, it is possible that it is being used primarily as a training boat.
Sovereign has been withdrawn from operational service because of a potential reactor fault. (Daily Telegraph 8/9/00)
It has been berthed at Faslane from July to October 2000.
Reported that Sovereign may be scrapped because of a reactor problem (Herald)
The reactor firm RRA were alongside on 27 Oct 00 and probably inspecting the reactor.
MoD claim that clear of "Tireless" fault, 1 Nov 00.
Berthed at Faslane mid September 2001.
Listed as undergoing maintenance / repair in November 2001
A statement in January 2002 indicated that Sovereign had the same problem as Sceptre and that the timescale for inspection and repair of this was not known.
Had been in service for 31 years by January 2005.
Fully operational in July 2005.
Listed as based at Faslane in March 2006.
Suez canal 10 August 2006 (seawaves.com) - possible confusion with Superb.
Gibraltar 17 August 2006 (seawaves.com) - same day as Trafalgar
In March 2002 an official statement said that Sovereign would be be decommissioned in 2005; statements in January and November 2004 and March 2005 said that it would be decommisioned in 2006.
In Devonport 22 September 2006 (Seawaves.com)
HMS Spartan
Deployed to the Indian Ocean for
5 months from January to July 1996.
Berthed at Faslane in August 1997, undergoing repairs.
A sailor was killed in a fatal accident on Spartan involving a mast on 7 Nov
97 in the Irish Sea.
Arrived at Rosyth in January 1999 for a refit due to begin in March 1999.
Partway through refit at Rosyth in October 2000.
MoD claim that clear of "Tireless" fault, 1 Nov 00
Still in refit at Rosyth Sep 2001.
Listed as in refit in November 2001
Refit due to be completed in April 2003
Will be capable of using cruise missiles when the refit is complete.
Had been in service for 26 years by January 2005.
Fully operational in July 2005.
In March 2002 an official statement said that Spartan would be decommissioned in 2006; this was repeated in statements in January and November 2004 and March 2005.
Not included in list of submarines based at Faslane in March 2006.
At Devonport awaiting Defuel, De-equip and Lay-up Preparations (DDLP). Will not be defuelled until new facilities are completed at Devonport (due 2012). The changes to the site include removal of the refuelling crane and installation of a new reactor access house. (HSE Nuclear Safety Newsletter August 2006)
HMS Splendid
Reported that hair line cracks were
discovered in 1993 while the submarine was in refit at Devonport.
Took part in exercise Purple Star.
The submarine took part in NATO Exercise Linked Seas off Gibraltar in 1997 then
was the first SSN to undergo a maintenance docking in the shiplift at Faslane.
The submarine then returned to Gibraltar for NATO exercise Tapon.
The submarine was in Rosyth dockyard for a seven month Capability Update Period
which ended in May 1998 when it returned to Faslane.
In 1998 it was decided that Splendid would not be given a further refit which
was due in 2003.
Used in Area Capability Training in West of UK and Minches in Feb/March 2000.
Due to visit Southampton in April 2000.
In September 2000, Splendid was the
only operational Swiftsure class submarine and had been allowed to continue
to be operational until February 2001 (Daily Telegraph 8/9/00)
The submarine sailed from Faslane on 16 October and was recalled to Faslane
on 21 October to be removed from service until checks are carried out into its
reactor.
Berthed at Faslane by 27 Oct 00.
Signs found of "Tireless" fault, 1 Nov 00
Carrying out trials at sea in summer 2001. At sea in mid September 2001 location
not known.
Listed as operational in November 2001.
In March 2002 an official statement said that Splendid would be decommissioned in 2003
In July 2005 listed as having been decommissioned.
Not included in list of submarines based at Faslane in March 2006.
CRUISE MISSILES
Splendid was used as a trials platform
for Cruise missiles. Carried out the first test firing of an inert cruise missile
in Loch Long in the first part of 1996. Further cruise missiles discharge trials
from Splendid were carried out in 1997.
On 2nd Oct 98 it was reported in the Scotsman that Splendid was sailing for
the US and that the first cruise missile test firing from Splendid would take
place at the USN San Diego range in November 1998. This would be followed by
crew leave and maintenance, after which the vessel will be operational with
Cruise missiles. Splendid fired Cruise missiles at targets South of Pristina
during the NATO attack on Kosovo on 24 March 1999.
Triumph was due to be cruise capable in early 2000, Trafalgar by summer 2000, but Trafalgar was delayed and only cruise capable in summer 2001. Trafalgar deployed with Argonaut task force to Gulf in September 2001 and the most likely British vessel to be used in any cruise missile attack on Afghanistan. Cruise missiles fired from Trafalgar during the attack on Afghanistan.
On 31 Jan 02 Defence Minister Lewis Moonie said that the UK had already purchased remanufactured cruise missiles from Raytheon to replace those fired during the Kosovo campaign and was negotiating over the purchase of more.
British cruise missiles will be conventionally armed. The US Navy deploys conventionally armed cruise missiles. Although the US Navy does not currently deploy nuclear armed cruise, there are warhead in the war reserve stockpile and there is an annual US exercise which tests the ability to reintroduce nuclear armed cruise missiles into service.
Last updated 11 November 2006