Swiftsure Class Nuclear Fleet Submarines

The Swiftsure Class was conceived to supplement existing fleet submarines and build up nuclear submarine numbers. It terms of design it was a follow on from the successful Valiant Class. However, a number of improvements were incorporated including a cylindrical hull and improved sonar and torpedo systems. As a result they were quieter, faster and could dive to greater depths. The contracts for the six ships were placed on an incremental basis - the lead ship, Swiftsure, was ordered from Vickers Shipbuilding & Engineering Ltd (VSEL) in ???. A second order was placed on 16th May 1969 for Sovereign, followed by an order for Superb on May 20th 1970 and for Sceptre on November 1st 1971. The penultimate submarine Spartan, was ordered on February 7th 1973 followed by the sixth and final unit, Splendid, on May 26th 1976

The Swiftsure class submarines have a displacement in the region of 5,000 tonnes and are 82.9 metres long with a beam of 9.8 metres and a draught of 8.5 metres. They have a complement of approximately 116, including 13 officers. Powered by a Rolls-Royce Pressurized Water Reactor (PWR) they have a submerged speed of 30 knots and can dive to 800 feet. The five 21 inch bow torpedo tubes can fire Spearfish and Tigerfish torpedoes, sub-Harpoon missiles and in the case of Splendid and Spartan, Tomahawk cruise missiles. They could also be used to deploy mines.

The principle role of these "hunter-killer" vessels is to attack ships and other submarines. In this capacity they could support and protect a convoy or taskforce. Additionally fleet submarines can be used in a surveillance role and since the introduction of Tomahawk, a Land Attack role.

When Argentine forces invaded the Falkland Islands in May 1982 two Swiftsure Class submarines- Splendid and Spartan- sailed to the South Atlantic and participated in the campaign to retake the islands. All six boats of the Swiftsure Class were based at Devonport as part of the Third Submarine Squadron, but have since been redeployed to Faslane where they form the First Submarine Squadron. Between 1987 and 1993 Spartan, Splendid and Sceptre were fitted with improved nuclear reactor cores (Core Z). However, technical problems forced Swiftsure to decommission early in 1992.

When the Labour Party swept to power in 1997 the new Secretary of State for Defence, George Robertson, launched a wide ranging review of Britain's armed forces. One of the outcomes of this Strategic Defence Review (SDR) was a cut in the numbers of attack submarines from 12 boats to 10 boats. This reduction will be achieved through the decommissioning of Splendid in 2003 and Spartan in 2006 without replacement. The orders for three Astute Class submarines to replace Sovereign, Superb and Sceptre remained unchanged by the review.

In 1998 Splendid became the first Royal Navy submarine to be capable of firing cruise missiles. She demonstrated this new ability to the assembled naval dignitaries and the media on November 18th 1998 when she destroyed a small building in the United States. When the strikes against Serbia began on Wednesday 24th March 1999, Splendid joined US Warships in launching missiles at Serb targets, becoming the first British nuclear submarine to fire in anger since H.M.S Conqueror in 1982. Exact information on Splendid's activities remains unknown, although it is thought that her cruise missiles were targeted at a Radar Station near Pristina airport. Similarly the number of missiles she fired is unclear- originally 65 cruise missiles were purchased by the UK and Splendid reportedly rearmed at 'a NATO base' (believed to be Sicily) during the conflict. A second Swiftsure Class submarine, Spartan, was fitted with tomahawk during a refit at Rosyth which commenced in March 1999.

Submarine	Pennant Number	Builder	Laid Down	Launched	Commissioned
Swiftsure	S126	Vickers		September 7th 1971	April 17th 1973
Sovereign	S108	Vickers	September 18th 1970	February 17th 1973	July 11th 1974
Superb	S109	Vickers	March 16th 1972	November 30th 1974	November 13th 1976
Sceptre	S104	Vickers	February 16th 1974	November 20th 1976	February 14th 1978
Spartan	S105	Vickers	April 26th 1976	April 7th 1978	September 22nd 1979
Splendid	S106	Vickers	November 23rd 1977	October 5th 1979	March 21st 1981

Submarine	History
Swiftsure	Paid off in 1992 and laid up at Rosyth ever since.
Sovereign	Launched by Lady Ashmore. Visited the North Pole in 1976.
Superb	Became the first British submarine to surface through the Arctic ice cap with American submarines. She is the ninth vessel to bear the name 'Superb' and has the nickname "Super B". When the Falklands Conflict occurred in 1982, Superb was spotted sailing from Gibraltar, which prompted press reports that she was sailing South, when in fact she was returning to Faslane.
Sceptre	Was fitted with an improved reactor core (Core Z) in 1987.
Spartan	Launched by Lady Emily Lygo, wife of Admrial Sir Raymond Lygo, Vice-Chief of Naval Staff. The first British submarine to reach the Falklands in 1982, Spartan witnessed the mining of Port Stanley. She was to have been placed into reserve in the early 1990's but this never materialized. Was fitted with an improved reactor core (Core Z) in 1989. H.M.S Spartan was the last submarine to salute H.M.S Dolphin. Spartan entered a refit at Rosyth in 1999 which enabled her to fire tomahawk cruise missiles.
Splendid	Launched by Lady Eberle. Splendid was involved in the 1982 Falklands Conflict. Was fitted with an improved reactor core (Core Z) in 1993. After a refit at Rosyth she became the first Royal Navy submarine to be capable of firing Tomahawk cruse missiles. She appeared in a BBC documentary (called 'HMS Splendid' !) that covered the period leading up to and including the first live firing of a Tomahawk missile by a British submarine. The cruise missile was fired by Splendid on November 18^th 1998 off the Island of San Clemente at a small target 400 miles inland in the United States. Fragments of the missile were recovered and are now on display at the Royal Navy Submarine Museum, Gosport. Splendid later participated in the Kosovo Conflict where she became the first British submarine to fire a cruise missile in anger. Although no conformation was given of the exact number fired the press speculated it could have been as many as 20 and it is known that she was rearmed at a NATO base (probably Sicily) during the conflict. Upon her return to Faslane on July 9^th 1999 splendid flew the Jolly Roger flag, a symbol of a successful war patrol. Her commanding officer later received an OBE.

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