Trafalgar class SSN (1981)

The Trafalgar class is the last cold war British Royal Navy nuclear-powered fleet submarines (SSNs), successor to the Swiftsure class. They were constructed at Barrow-in-Furness shipyard in Cumbria between 1979 and 1991 and were succeeded by the current Astute class (7 boats built 2001-2026). Design-wise they closely derived from the Swiftsure class, improving still on many points. Only one Trafalgar class is remaining active today in commission (as of 2024), HMS Triumph. Six others were retired gradually between 2009 and 2022, but back in 1991 as the Soviet Union collapsed, this was the core of Britain’s nuclear-powered ‘hunter-killer’ submarine force. Due to their names, they are also called the “T class”, resurrecting the famous conventional class of WW2.

Development

Design work on replacement for the 1971 Swiftsure class started already in 1972, but the design was only approved in 1977 when “construction” started with the first elements being provided and assembly started in 1979 with the first keel laying. The Trafalgar class were designed during the Cold War as a refinement of the Swiftsures and considered a 2nd generation of SSN, a departure from HMS Dreadnought back in 1960. The Trafalgar or T class were also the fifth class of nuclear-powered fleet submarines: Dreadnought, Valiant, Churchill, Swiftsure and this. HMS Trafalgar was ordered on 7 April 1977, laid down 18 days later, and completed in 1983.

As much as the Swiftsure were a class of the 1970s the Trafalgar kept many companyies supplying Vickers Shipbuilding and Engineering at the Barrow-in-Furness shipyard busy for the 1980s decade. HMS Triumph was last ordered, on 3 January 1986, completed in 1991. They were hit by the financial crisis in Britain and underwent some delays, but none was in service yet during the Falkland wars. Average construction time was five years, compared to six for the Swiftsure still, but construction methods used a great deal of modularity to gain considerable time. However costs rose steeply. In 1982, Jane’s Fighting Ships estimated cost for the fourth, HMS Sceptre, to £175 million, including equipment and weapon system and in 1986 cited on average £200 million. As a reference, the last and costiest Swiftsure class, HMS Splendid was estimated £97 million in 1981 when commissioned.

Design-wise, the Trafalgar class was longer and slightly heavier than the Swiftsures for the same beam, and greater draught. This enabled to increase useful internal space, notably for extra electronic hardware and weaponry. They were also better suited from the start to fire and control a wide aray of tube-compatible weapons and notably the sub-Tomahawl and sub-harpoon among others as well as the new Spearfish heavyweight torpedo, a game changer.

Design of the class

Hull and general design

The rubber cladding of HMS Triumph

The Trafalgar were essentially a refinement of the Swiftsure class, and bears a lot of similarity, notably its internal layout and Rolls-Royce PWR1 Core 3 pressurized water nuclear reactor. Some improvements over the Swiftsure class included reduced acoustic signature, an ever ongoing process on an already solid base. The Swiftsure were considered more silent than the Los Angeles class subs for example. The new Trafalgar built on this legacy, with the hull being enrirely covered in a new type of anechoic tiles designed to absorb sound, not reflect it. The pumpjet propulsion system inaigurated on the previosu class was also improved in shape, but only from the second boat HMS Turbulent, Trafalgar keeping her conventional propeller.

The hull form is a further development of the Swiftsure class design and modification of the basic Albacore form but with still an important cylindrical hull
section amidships to ease production, even with fuller hull lines aft than US SSNs. This is the result of the extensive rafting of the machinery aft and the Trafalgar also have a further filling out of the aft lines for additional buoyancy and compensate for the added weight of the shouded propulsor.
Circulating water scoops are in the forward edge of the tail control fins for more natural water circulation, and toned down the use of main circulation pumps continuously. The anechoic tiles uses a classified rubber-compound with a great degree of absorbion and dispersion of active sonar impulses. More soundproodfing is achieved achieved by internal sound decoupling layers.

The Trafalgar class are 85.4 m (280 ft 2 in) long overall versus 82.9 m (272 ft) for the Swiftsure, with the same beam at 9.8 m (32 ft 2 in). Draught is way superior at 9.5 m (31 ft 2 in) versus 8.5 m (28 ft) and this extra bulk is translated in displacement, 5,300 tonnes (5,200 long tons) underwater versus 4,900 t (5,401.33 short tons). With late upgrades it rose to 5800 short tons. Surfaced its 4,500 to 4,800 t (4,700 long tons; 5,300 short tons) versus 4,400 t (4,850.17 short tons) standard for the Swiftsure so a gap of 400 tonnes. Other soureces like forecastinternational.com gaves even 6,300 tonnes surfaced and 6,800 tonnes submerged.

The complement ranges from 97 to 130 versus 113 on the previous boats, automation being balanced by extra consoles and operators given the boat’s more impressive suite. The Trafalgar is given also the same strengthened fins in the nose and retractable hydroplanes. The idea was to operate and surface through thick ice, a fertile hunting ground of Soviet SSBNs.
Like previous boats, they had also five bow 21-inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes but up to 30 weapons versus 32 on the Swiftsure class, incuding encapsulated missiles. That’s perhaps after the new, much larger Spearfish replaeced the previous models. It also operates the longer and heavier Tomahawk Block IV cruise missile capable of 1,000 miles (1,600 km). One aspect which still are found quiky, its the “recycling” of the same steering column used in the Wellington bombers of WW2 fame.

Powerplant

The Trafalgar were the same as the Swiftsure on that plan, the engine compartment was left mostly unchanged: Two sets GEC-Alstom geared steam turbines, fed in turn by the very same Rolls-Royce PWR-1 for 15,000 hp, just like the even older Churchill class, but tons of mosifications had been done, notably more control automation. More importantly is the rafting, in such as way be more discreet. Details of this are obviously classified, expecially since one is still active, but are reputed refined compared to the Swiftsure class. Some experts considers the Trafalgar and US Seawolf class are on par concerning submarine quietness.

Top speed is noted “in excess of 30 knots (56 km/h)” underwater, 20 knots surfaced. Its two knots fster than the previous class, but it’s ubnclear how it was achieved unless looking at auxiliary machinery. In addition to the now evenerable, but updated Rolls-Royce PWR1 nuclear reactor, steam feeds two GEC steam turbines and goes for the final drive through two WH Allen turbo generators for a 3.2 MW ouput total. There is a backup in the shape of two Paxman diesel generators rated for 2,800 shp (2.1 MW) total. The pump jet propulsor shouds a 7-bladed propeller which shape also was further otpimise for pump jet use, and there is a second back with a motor for emergency drive and an auxiliary retractable prop for harbour manoeuvers and avoid collisions.

Range is unlimited but autonomy is not, given its human crew, with food ion board and managing crew fatigue and morale, limits sorties to 90 days at sea for the crew. We observe a rise at 130 compared to 116 on the previous class and 103 on the Churchills, but again, automation is not sufficient to stop the increase in electronics systems and general complexity of the command and control. The Trafalgars like the previous class are reputed able to dive below 300 meters (984 ft) with a crushing depth a multiple of this.

Armament

No big change on that area, except the latest variant of weapons gradually introduced on the Swiftsure class. The five tubes are unusually places with four forward shooting and one angle down. Legacy systems includes the Mark 23 early in service, but the primary torpedo on board was the Mark 24 Tigerfish, replaced from 1992 by the Mark 25 Spearfish. The Tomahawk and sub-Harpoon are also both upgraded. The electronics suite and CC are also largey upgraded in order to operate the costly and complex Spearfish and upgrades were done all along the 1990s and early 2000s. The Sub Harpoon missiles was retired in 2004 and the Tomahawk is optional, though. forecastinternational.com gives 38 weapons, not 30, including with the Spearfish.

Mark 23 Grog:

A wire-guided version of the Mark 20 with dual-speed mode, tested from 1955 and worked on further after “Mackle” project was cancelled in 1956. The first were delivered in 1959 but it entered service in 1966, and considered already obsolescent, not operational until 1971. But they were never popular as thir control system was failing at extreme range.
⚙ Specifications Mark 22 Grog
Weight: 2,000 lb (907 kg)
Dimensions: 14.9 ft (4.54 m) x 21 in (530 mm)
Propulsion: Battery (perchloric acid)
Range/speed setting: 12,000 yd (11,000m)@20 knots, 8,900 yd (8,100 m)@ 28 knots
Warhead: 89 kg (196 lb) Torpex
Guidance: Wire-guided to point, passive sonar acquisition for terminal guidance

Mark 24 Tigerfish (1970):

Despite many issues, the 1950 program initially setup to deliver an operational model in 1969 was too ambitious and technically complex to meet its original target. This 55-knot (102 km/h; 63 mph), deep-diving torpedo was driven by an internal combustion engine using high pressure oxygen as oxidant. It was guided by a wire system developed from the Mackle project in 1952. It used data transmitted from the firing submarine sonars during its wired run, until detached and completed its race to the target after acquisition using an autonomous active/passive sonar developed from the abandoned 1950s UK PENTANE torpedo project. This was also known as Project ONGAR and engineers were so confident in its superiority it was described as “…the end of the line for torpedo development”. The Mk 24 Tigerfish entered service in 1970, followed in the 1990s by the Spearfish.
⚙ Specifications Mark 24 Tigerfish
Weight: 1,550 kg (3,417 lb)
Dimensions: 6.5 m (21 ft) x 533 mm (21 in)
Power unit: Electrical, chloride silver-zinc oxide batteries 35-knot
Maximum range: 39 km (43,000 yd) at low speed, 13 km (14,000 yd) at 35 kts
Warhead: 134 to 340 kg (295 to 750 lb) Torpex
Guidance: Wire-guided to point, passive sonar target acquisition/terminal homing.
Next torpedo to cover: The Spearfish (Swiftsure class).

NST 7525 Spearfish (1992):

The Spearfish was develped as a heavy torpedo for submarines, with optional wire guidance and/or autonomous passive/active sonar, and as generic anti-submarine warfare (ASW) and anti-surface warfare (ASuW) asset. Development started in the 1970s, production in 1988, deployment in 1992, so in time when the last of the Trafalgar class entered service. It re-equipped all Trafalgar boats and completely superseded from 2004 the Tigerfish torpedo in service.

Like its carrier, it is powered by a pump-jet for extra boost and discretion, coupled to a Hamilton Sundstrand 21TP04 gas turbine engine, fed by Otto fuel II and hydroxylammonium perchlorate used as oxidiser to improve fuel specific energy. That way, the Spearfish top speed is an unheard of 80 knots (150 km/h; 92 mph) as it was originally tailored to catch Soviet Alfa and Sierra class SSNs, deep and fast.

The Spearfish microprocessor brings full autonomy in tactical decisions when attacking, and when it bites, its blast warhead working on contact or acoustic proximity fuse is calculated to detonate under a ship’s keel to maximize stress and cause a reupture. Against a more robust pressure hull, the concussion wave and contact method ensures the thickest hull would crack open.

The spearfish is wire-guided if used that way, up to a point, when running out of it, ensureing resistance to jamming, in the general vicinity of the target when engaging covert passive search. The high-capacity guide wire system was tailored for that torpedo to provides two-way data exchange all the way to the final lap.
At Closer range the Spearfish swaps from passive to active sonar to classify and home in, while discriminate targets from background noise and still provides efficient countermeasures resistance or evasive manoeuvres against anti-torpedo torpedoes.

If failing to find the target, out-manoeuvered, as long as power is still running, the Spearfish automatically selects the best re-attack mode until the target is terminated. The tactical software was constantly upgraded and updated along the years of service through notably 500 in-water trials and exercise firings.
Production was assumed by GEC-Marconi Underwater Systems Ltd (BAE Systems) from 1983, with full production in 1988, first deplpoyment in 1992, program complete in 2003, stored and serviced at Beith Ordnance Storage facility in North Ayrshire. A major upgrade was launched in 2009 and ran until 2019.

On 15 December 2014, the MoD awarded BAE Systems for a new upgrade plan, integrating the insensitive-munition warhead from TDW, new fuel system, full digitisation, new fibre optic guidance link and the ‘MOD 1’ entered service from 2020 and the program is still ongoing today on the whole park.

RGM-84B Sub-Harpoon:

The cancellation of the Undersea Guided Weapon programme led to purchase instead the Sub-Harpoon to give SSNs a long range capability strike. Normal provision was six of them, replacing torpedoes. Trials started in October 1981. This purchase was followed by the selection of the latest surface version, the RGM-84C, as the successor to the Exocet.
In short: Size 4.63 m x 0.343 m, 683 kg, Teledyne J402-CA-400 turbojet + booster, Mach 0.9, range 130 km.
Payload 221 kg WDU-18/B penetrating HE-fragmentation with delayed impact fuse.
Guidance: Initial phase Inertial navigation, final Active radar homing, sea skimming.

BGM-109 Tomahawk:

Introduced in the early 1990s, Block II TLAM-N: 1,350 nmi (1,550 mi; 2,500 km) at 570 mph (500 kn; 920 km/h) with 1,000 pounds (450 kg) high explosive or submunition dispenser. In 1995, the US agreed to sell 65 Tomahawks of the torpedo-launch variant, the first missiles acquired and test-fired in November 1998, but not all Trafalgar and Swiftsure were capable of operating it, the Astute-class however integrated it from the start. The Kosovo War in 1999 saw the Swiftsure-class HMS Splendid become the first British submarine to fire a Tomahawk in combat. 20 more Block III were later purchased to replenish stocks. They were also used in 2000s Afghanistan War, Operation Telic, 2003 Iraq War, and Operation Ellamy in Libya in 2011.

Stonefish and Sea Urchin mines:

Two could fit and take the place in the tube of a torpedo, they had the same diameter.
Stonefish mine: Developed by BAE for the RAN initially it had a warshot with incremental payload, generally with an aluminised PBX warhead base. It existed in four variants. Src
Sea Urchin mine: It was also developed by BAE (British Aerospace) in the early 1980s with a variety of warhead (250 kg, 500kg, and 750 kg) and common sensing, fuzing, and arming system combining acoustic, magnetic, and pressure sensors. It seemed to have been tested but never purchased.

Sensors

Bow, flank, active intercept, towed array sonar. Attack and search persicopes, collision avoidance radar for surface navigation and satnav, satcom antennae.
The suite diverged between ships:
The first boats were given the type 1007 radar, type 2020 MODEX, type 2007, type 2019 PARIS, type 2026, type 2027 sonars, and UAC.
For electronic warfare the Telegon 6 CXA ECM suites, and two SSE Mk 8 decoy launchers and well as the DCB/DCG CCS.
S92 Talent introduced the type 2046 sonar.
S93 Triumph introduced the type 2072 sonar and also had the Type 2046.
However HMS Turbulent carries a Type 2044 reeled towed array in a hump aft of the sail whilke the others have in a clip on unit. She also featured an improved 2020 MODEX set. in order to try the new Type 2054 integrated sonar system for the Vanguard class.

Type 1007 radar: Based on the commercial Kelvin-Hughes Series 1600 and Radpak 16 systems.
Type 2007 sonar: Hull mounted long-range passive sonar, project ‘SOAP’. 186 hydrophone arrays.
Type 2026 sonar: Commissioned for the SSBNs, Trafalgar and Upholder Class. 32 channel, 2 octave processor.
Type 2027 sonar: No data
Type 2046 sonar: Towed array.
Type 2019 PARIS: Sonar intercept system was developed by a British-French-Dutch consortium headed by Thomson-CSF (now Thomson Marconi). PARIS stands for passive/active range-and-intercept system.
Type 2020 MODEX: Bow-mounted low-frequency active sonar with excellent passive capabilities.
Type 2072 sonar: Flank array, replacing the Type 2007.
UAB/UAC ECM suite: No data
DCB CCS: No data.
SSE Mk 8 Torpedo Decoy launchers. No data.

Among the interesting tidbits of the class, one aspect underlined by the excellent HI Sutton in 2021 was the presence on some boats of non-acoustic ‘wake homing’ sensors mounted on theforward casing and either side of the fin, with probes projecting forward, recalling the Russian SOKS system. The idea was to detect in a passive way water density, chemical composition and radiation when trailing another submarine.

Mike1979russia’s modified Profile of the Trafalgar class
See also the excellent cutaway by HI Sutton.

HMS Trenchant and her experimental camouflage. Enhanced profile.

⚙ Trafalgar class specs.
Displacement	Surfaced: 4,500-4,800t, sub 5,200-5,300t*
Dimensions	85.4 x 9.8 x 9.5 m (280 ft x 32 ft x 31 ft)
Propulsion	RR PWR1 nuc., 2× GEC ST, 2× WH Allen TBGs, 2× Paxman diesels, see notes
Speed	Over 30 knots (56 km/h), submerged
Range	Unlimited
Tes depth	300-600 m (1970 ft) depending on sources
Armament	5× 21-inch (533 mm) TTs, 30 weapons, see notes
Sensors	RESM Racal UAP, CESM Outfit CXA, 2× SSE Mk8 torpedo decoys
Crew	97-130

Upgrades

In 1995 HMS Trafalgar had her UAC ECM suite and DCB/DCG CCS replaced by the new UAP(1) ECM suite and SMCS CCS.
In 1997-98 Turbulent and Tireless obtained the type 2074 sonar, in addition to the UAP(1) ECM suite, SMCS CCS seen prior.
The remainder of the class from 1999 to 2007 were uupgraded to the Tomahawk Block III Cruise missile with four UGM-109 carried.
In 2003 HMS Torbay had her type 2020 MODEX, type 2007, 2019 PARIS, 2026, 2027 sonars, ECM suite and CCS removed and she was radically upgraded, with the enw type 2076 Block IV sonar suite, as well as the type 2046, type 2082 sonars, and the UAP(1) ECM suite and SMCS NG CCS as prior boats.
In 2004-2009, HMS Trenchant, Talent, Triumph followed the same upgrade program and in 2008, all had their Tomahawk and Sub-Harpoon replaced by the Tomahawk Block IV only. In 2008 HMS Trenchant qsw the installation of the US Navy BQS-15A sonar for compatibility tests and evaluation.
In 2019-2020 their Telegon 6 CXA ECM suite was replaced by the new CESM/7415 Eddystone ECM suite.

Career of the Trafalgar class

In 1987, the Canadian White Paper on Defence recommended a purchase of 10 to 12 Rubis (French) or Trafalgar class SSNs, under technology transfer and the choice of the type of submarine was to be confirmed before the summer of 1988. This was iinitially for the optimistic “three-ocean navy” Canadian plane, extended over over Arctic waters. In April 1989 budget constraints doomed the project.
The submarines saw service and active combat for three of them with Tomahawk attacks in Afghanistan, Iraq and Libya. In 2001 HMS Trafalgar was in Operation Veritas against Al-Qaeda after September 11 attacks. In April 2003, HMS Turbulent flew the traditional Jolly Roger after launching thirty Tomahawk as part of the invasion of Iraq and during the 2011 military intervention in Libya, HMS Triumph fired Tomahawk missiles on 19-20 and 24 March on Libyan air-defence installations around Sabha. She was back to Devonport on 3 April 2011 also flying the a Jolly Roger sporting six Tomahawk axes.
In 1993 Triumph made a record trip underwater to Austrlia over 41,000 miles (66,000 km) whilst submerged. In 2011 she made the longest deployment ever for a British sub.
In 1998, there was an incident on HMS Tireless, a steam leak forcing the crew to shut down the reactor and in 2000 there was a leak in the PWR1 reactor, in its primary cooling circuit over eight days. She was obliged to sail down to Gibraltar on her diesels power. Investigation showed thermal fatigue cracks, leading to an urgent inspecttion and repair of all concerned boats. In 2013 reports of rising technical problems due to ageing, requiring effective management. This contributed as much as budget constraints to decommission the class slightly before planned initially.

HMS Trafalgar was the first laid down at Vickers Shipbuilding and Engineering, Barrow-in-Furness on 25 April 1979 and launched on 1 July 1981, completed on 27 May 1983. 5th to bear the battle name, her deployments are, for now, classified. In June 1996 she grounded near the Isle of Skye in Scotland and again in November 2002, and she ran aground near the Isle of Skye for £5 million damage, three sailors injured. She wa 50 metres underwater at 14 knots when Lt.Cdr Tim Green (student in the “Perisher” course) ordered a course change. She hit the charted Fladda-chuain islet. The cout martial that followed until 9 March 2004 reprimanded Commander Robert Fancy (navigation) and Commander Ian McGhie (instructor) for negligence. Green had an administrative censure. In May 2008 a near icident happened again when the used in an exercise was covered with tracing paper, to prevent students marking it.
Still, notable open operations included Operation Veritas (attack on Al-Qaeda and Taliban forces) with tomahawk strikes, and she returned to Plymouth Sound flying the Jolly Roger, on 1 March 2002, welcomed by Admiral Sir Alan West, CiC. This was the first Tomahawk strike of any RN subs in Afghanistan.
She was decommissioned on 4 December 2009 at Devonport, first of her class, stricke, in reserve, pending recycling.

HMS Turbulent (S87) was laid down on 8 May 1980, launched on 1 December 1982 and completed on 28 April 1984. She had a modernisation program and first nuclear refuelling in 1997. She took part in the 2003 invasion of Iraq, and sent 30 Tomahawk. On 16 April 2003 she was the first to return home from this campaign, flying the Jolly Roger marked with 30 small axes.
In the 2011 Military Intervention in Libya she left Devonport in February 2011 and had a 268-day deployment, East of Suez, planned to be the last before decommissioning. She was sent in the Gulf of Sidra to relieve HMS Triumph (Libya intervention) and in turn herself by Triumph, then sailing to the Suez Canal in June and the Indian Ocean, Fujairah, and the tender RFA Diligence. She was back to Devonport on 14 December 2011 after 190 days (267-day deployment) underwater over 38,000 miles. When leaving Fujairah on 26 May, her air-conditioning system stopped while surfaced and the internal temperatures rose to 60 °C (with 100% moist). This caused 26 casualties despite rotations, from heat exhaustion. Eight were severe, as temperatures reached 42°C. To cope, the commander ordered regular dives under 200 metres when possible. It was later discovered that local barnacles managed to enter and block water inlet pipes when in Fujairah. This was disclosed in 2014 and inspection notices passed on the the fleet if deployed in these waters.
There was a planned decommission by the fall 2011 but this was postponed and in February 2012 it seems she was deployed in the Falkland Islands amid increasing tension under Cdr. Nick Wheeler. She was decommissioned at her return on 14 July 2012, stripped, awaiting dismantling in Devonport Dockyard.

Tireless (S88) was laid down on 6 June 1981, launched on 17 March 1984 and completed on 5 October 1985. Like her sisters she took part in exercises and port visits ound the world, starting with the Arctic in 1991. She was refitted in 1996, back at sea on 1999. Here are some of the most notable events concerning Tireless:
May 2000, serious leak in the nuclear reactor primary cooling circuit (no serious radioactive contamination measured). She ran on diesel back to Gibraltar. Her repairs there were undisclosed by the press and fuelled diplomatic tension between Spain and Britain. She left on 7 May 2001 (after almost a year) for home and additional inspections and fixes. All Trafalgar-class reported similar issues.
13 May 2003: While on exercise in the Arctic under 60 metres, her sonars failed to located a deep iceber, with which she collided. Forced down 9 degrees she managed to broke free under 78 metres and later inspection revealed damage on her upper section.
19 April 2004: Tireless and USS Hampton met in the Arctic, surfaced in ice together at the North Pole ad an exercise.
While in Gibraltar in 2004, 9-15 July for “technical reasons”, Spanish press went wild and alleged hidden radioactive issues and as believed to be linked to British celebrations on 21 July (300th anniversary of Spain handing over Gibraltar).
21 March 2007: While in the North Pole with USS Alexandria for an Applied Physics Laboratory Ice Station (APLIS) mission to measure ice thickness by using sonar, leading Weapons Engineer Paul McCann and Weapons Engineer 2 Anthony Huntrod were killed in an explosion caused by an oxygen generator candle forward. She made an emergency surface run through pack ice. A third had serious injuries, airlifted to the nearest military hospital at Elmendorf Air Force Base (Anchorage, Alaska).
9 July 2010 to 12 May 2011: Tireless made her longest, 10-month deployment, 253 days at sea, via the Suez Canal to join the protection carrier group of the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle launching striked on Afghanistan, entering Fujaira (UAE) and later Goa, India, Souda Bay (Crete). She was also involved in a multi-nationional ASW exercise in the Gulf of Oman with HMAS Melbourne and FS Dupleix failing to locate her.
In February 2012 she was deployed in the Falkland Islands due to rising tension between Argentina and the United Kingdom over sovereignty. When back she entered Southampton for towed array sonar calibration, and extra tests in the Bay of Biscay.
Early 2013: She reported another small coolant leak within the sealed reactor compartment, repaired in HMNB Devonport.
2013 Mediterranean deployment: She was seen off Gibraltar as tensions rose between Spain and the UK over Gibraltar, in stand guard to be sent to Syria.
On 1 April 2014I she took part in the Indian Ocean search for Malaysian Airlines flight MH370, using at best her sophisticated underwater listening equipment but she failed to detect the aircraft beeping flight recorders.
On 1 June 2014 she was back in Plymouth, formally decommissioned on 19 June, placed in reserve for recylcling and moved in 2020 to a basin within Devonport dockyard (“the graveyard”). Still there.

Torbay was laid down on December 1982, launched on 8 March 1985 and completed on 7 February 1987. Torbay had her main refuelling/modernisation in February 2001.

In early 2006, she took part in experiments in colour schemes over her rubber tiles coating to reduce visibility from the air. She ended with a very specific shade of blue after extensive research. It was reported that black was the worst possible colour in that scenario. The color was less an issue during the cold war in the stormy, cold North Atlantic, but now a problem in clearer, calmer waters of the Middleeast and Indian Ocean, her new deployment areas.
In November 2010 Hansard reported she ran aground in the Eastern Mediterranean back in April 2009.
In May 2011 she was in Exercise Saxon Warrior, Western Approaches, with CBG USS George H.W. Bush and in company of HMS Dauntless, HMS Westminster, and others in the “Thursday War”.
In late 2011 she had her revalidation and assisted maintenance period (RAMP) at Devonport, with communications upgrades, such as the Cromwell radio antenna for better internal communications, hull and reactor inspection, overhaul of one reactor cooler, upgrades to many systems. She returned in service from summer 2013.

In formation with the US oiler Leroy Grumman in exercise Saxon Warrior 11
In 2013, a fire was reported on board, quicky extinguished, not extensive damage or casualty.
She entered Devonport on 19 June 2017, to be decommissioned on 14 July. She is now in recycling, waiting disposal.

Trenchant was laid down on 28 October 1985, launched on 3 November 1986 and completed on 14 January 1989. On 22 November 1990, she caught the nets of the trawler FV Antares in Bute Sound (Scotland) while in ‘Perisher’ Submarine Command Course exercise with HMS Charybdis. All four crew went down with the trawler and the subsequent Marine Accident Investigation and concluded in a breakdown of standards and organization of watchkeeping on board.
In July 1997, she ran aground off the western coast of Australia off Fremantle while under 200 metres (660 ft), hitting the continental shelf but resting on a sloping patch of seafloor. She left and was examined by divers, finding no significant damage.
She tested a non-hull-penetrating optronic mast in 1998 and tested like her sister Torbay and new camouflage paint scheme with jagged shapes with shades of blue among others. She made an Arctic ice surfacing during ICEX 2018.
On 21 June 2007 she was the first to test the new Block IV Tomahawk cruise missile in the Gulf of Mexico.
In late 2009, she had her refit complex over 2-year refit, with upgrades in Devonport. She retook service on 6 June 2011.
On 22 May 2013 she had the record patrol for 335 days (11 months) over 38,800 nmi (71,900 km; 44,700 mi) and visiting Fujairah, Diego Garcia, Bahrain, Aqaba, Souda Bay and Gibraltar. She had a new refit and maintenance until August 2016.
In March 2018 she sailed with USS Connecticut and USS Hartford for ICEX 2018, surfacing in arctic ice.
In April 2020 her captain was relieved of command after sailors published a video of them having a party while under COVID 19 lockdown, while forced to stay on board in isolation.
HMS Trenchant made a final 4-month deployment in the Atlantic and took part in a documentary. On 25 March 2021 she entered Plymouth, to be decommissioned in a joint ceremony with Talent on 20 May 2022. Like the others she is waiting for recycling.

Talent was laid down on 13 May 1986, launched on 15 April 1988 and completed on 12 May 1990. She had first and last major refit and overhaul at Devonport, back in March 2007 for £386 million. In 2009 she had a loss of primary and alternative power supplies to its nuclear reactors (while docked).
On 6 August 2013, she returned for a 3-month deployment and by October was in ASW exercise with HMS Dragon, USS Gravely, USS Stout and USS Barry.
In April 2015 it was reported she had hit an iceberg n 2014 while tracking Russian ships and she had another overhaul in HMNB Clyde in July 2019.
Like some of her sister, the delays in completion of the Astute class meant she slipped past her recommissioned date for 12 more months until 2022.
She had her joint decommission ceremony with Trenchant on 20 May 2022.

Triumph was laid down on 2 February 1987, launched on 16 February 1991 and completed on 12 October 1991. Only one still “active” as of 2024.
She made a trip to Australia in 1993 (41,000 miles/66,000 km submerged) marking a solo deployment record for British SSNs. Next with HMS Trafalgar she took part in the 2001 TF supporting the invasion of Afghanistan (Operation Veritas) with many Tomahawk missiles launches. Back home she flew the Jolly Roger.
On 19 November 2000 she ran aground while under 200 m (660 ft) at 22 knots (41 km/h; 25 mph) off the western Scottish coast. She surfaced without issue, but the grounding was attributed to trainee officers after the investigation, and poor navigation. Damage was light.
In 2005 she started a £300 million nuclear refuel/refitting, back in June 2010, last Trafalgar-class decommissioned. In 2011 she was featured in How to Command a Nuclear Submarine and showed the trainees in “Perisher Course”.

By March 2011 she took part in Operation Ellamy on 19 March, 20, 24 March to Libyan air defence targets wit Tomahawks, notably Colonel Muhammar Ghadaffi’s command and control centre under the presidential compound. She was back to Devonport on 3 April 2011 flying another Jolly Roger with six small tomahawk axes.
On 20 June she left Devonport for the Mediterranean, relieving HMS Turbulent, and more tomahawks launched, flying the jolly rogers for the third time for her striked in Libya, analysts pointing out 15 cruise missiles launched in operations by her alone, a record.
In November 2011 she left Devonport for a 7-month deployment until the summer 2012, jumping from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean, Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean. By May 2013, she ahd a new refit for more service until 2018. After the Integrated Review of 2020, it was announced she would soldiered on for 18 more months, and later, up to 2025 due to delays delivering the replacement Astute class.
In December 2022 she was back in service after her last post-refit trials and had a new four-year refit, now by Nov-Dec. training off Devonport naval base.

Read More/Src

Books

Conway’s all the world’s fighting ships 1947-1995, page 531.

Links

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on maritimequest.com
navypedia.org/
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armedforces.co.uk/
facebook.com/HMSTrafalgar/
commons.wikimedia.org/
defenseindustrydaily.com

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