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FIGHTING SHIPS OF THE WORLD
UNITED KINGDOM
SUBMARINES
SWIFTSURE nuclear attack submarines (1973 - 1981)


Photo



Sceptre 1978

Ships


Name No Yard No Builder Laid down Launched Comp Fate
Swiftsure S126   VSEL, Barrow 6.6.1969 7.9.1971 17.4.1973 BU 5.1992
Sovereign S108   VSEL, Barrow 18.9.1970 17.2.1973 11.7.1974 stricken 9.2006
Superb S109   VSEL, Barrow 16.3.1972 30.11.1974 13.11.1976 stricken 9.2008
Sceptre S104   VSEL, Barrow 19.2.1974 20.11.1976 14.2.1978 stricken 2.2010
Spartan S105   VSEL, Barrow 26.4.1976 7.4.1978 22.9.1979 stricken 1.2006
Splendid (ex-Severn) S106   VSEL, Barrow 23.11.1977 5.10.1979 21.3.1981 stricken 2004


Technical data


Displacement standard, t

4000
Displacement normal, t

4200 / 4900
Length, m

82.9
Breadth, m

9.83
Draught, m

8.25
No of shafts

1
Machinery

2 sets GEC-Alstom geared steam turbines, Rolls-Royce PWR1 nuclear reactor
Power, h. p.

15000
Max speed, kts

20 / 28
Fuel, t

nuclear
Endurance, nm(kts)

practically unlimited
Armament

5 - 533 TT (bow, 20, mines instead of torpedoes)
Electronic equipment

S126: type 1003 radar, type 2001, type 2007, type 2019 sonars, UAC ECM suite, 2x SSE Mk 8 decoy launchers, DCA CCS

S104, 108, 109: type 1003 radar, type 2001, type 2007, type 2019 sonars, UAC ECM suite, 2x SSE Mk 8 decoy launchers, DCB CCS

S105, 106: type 1003 radar, type 2020, type 2007, type 2019 sonars, UAC ECM suite, 2x SSE Mk 8 decoy launchers, DCB CCS
Complement

97
Diving depth operational, m

~300


Standard scale images


<i>Superb </i>1990
Superb 1990


Graphics


<i>Sceptre</i> 1978
Sceptre 1978
<i>Superb </i>2002  
Superb 2002  


Project history

Shorter and of fuller hull-form than previously, and designed to dive deeper. The fine bow-section means that only five tubes can be fitted, but in other respects the vessels are merely improved Valiants.

Modernizations

1984, Sovereign; 1986, Superb; 1987, Sceptre: - type 2001 sonar; + Sub-Harpoon SSM (4 UGM-84B instead of torpedoes), type 2020, type 2024 sonars

1989, Spartan; 1991, Splendid: + Sub-Harpoon SSM (4 UGM-84D-2 instead of torpedoes), type 2024 sonar

1997, Sovereign; 1998, Superb; 2001, Sceptre; 2003, Spartan: - type 1003 radar, type 2020, type 2024 sonars, UAC ECM suite, DCB CCS; + type 1006(1) radar, type 2074, type 2046, type 2077 sonars, UAP(1) ECM suite, type 2066, 2071 torpedo decoys, DCB/DCG CCS

1998, Splendid; 1999, Spartan: + Tomahawk CruM (4 UGM-109 instead of torpedoes)

2008, Sceptre: - Sub-Harpoon SSM

Naval service

No significant events.