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FIGHTING SHIPS OF THE WORLD
UNITED KINGDOM
SUBMARINES
VALIANT nuclear attack submarines (5, 1966 - 1971)
Photo
Valiant 1980
Ships
| Name | No | Yard No | Builder | Laid down | Launched | Comp | Fate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Valiant (ex-Inflexible) | S102 | Vickers-Armstrong, Barrow | 22.1.1962 | 3.12.1963 | 18.7.1966 | for disposal 6.1994 | |
| Warspite | S103 | Vickers-Armstrong, Barrow | 10.12.1963 | 25.9.1965 | 18.4.1967 | for disposal 6.1991 | |
| Churchill | S46 | Vickers-Armstrong, Barrow | 30.6.1967 | 20.12.1968 | 15.7.1970 | for disposal 2.1991 | |
| Conqueror | S48 | Cammell Laird, Birkenhead | 5.12.1967 | 28.8.1969 | 9.11.1971 | for disposal 9.1990 | |
| Courageous (ex-Superb) | S50 | Vickers-Armstrong, Barrow | 15.6.1968 | 7.3.1970 | 16.10.1971 | for disposal 4.1992 |
Technical data
| Displacement standard, t | 3000 |
|---|---|
| Displacement normal, t | 3500 / 4000 |
| Length, m | 86.9 pp 96.0 oa |
| Breadth, m | 10.1 |
| Draught, m | 8.20 |
| No of shafts | 1 |
| Machinery | 2 sets English Electric 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 | 6 - 533 TT (bow, 26) |
| Electronic equipment | type 1003 radar, type 2001, type 2007, type 2019 sonars, UAA ECM suite, DCA/DCB CCS |
| Complement | 103 |
| Diving depth operational, m | 230 |
Standard scale images
Valiant 1977
Valiant 1990
Valiant 1979
Graphics
Valiant 1980
Project history
This class was a slightly enlarged edition of the Dreadnought to accommodate the bulkier British reactor developed at the Admiralty Reactor Test Establishment at Dounreay. The completion of Valiant was delayed by a year became of the priority given to die Polaris programme. As in the Dreadnought, conventional Laurence-Scott electric motors and a 112-cell battery provided emergency power, with a Paxman diesel generator. All TT were forward, and Mk 24 torpedoes have replaced the earlier Mks 8 and 23.
Modernizations
1980, Valiant; 1981, Warspite; 1983, Churchill; 1984-1985, Conqueror, Courageous: - type 2001 sonar, UAA ECM suite; + Sub-Harpoon SSM (normally 4 UGM-84B instead of part of torpedoes), type 2020, type 2024 sonars, UAL ECM suite, DCA/DCB CCS
Naval service
Conqueror became the unique nuclear-powered submarine really attacked enemy ship. 2.5.1982 she sunk the Argentine cruiser General Belgrano using two WW-II era Mk 8 torpedoes.
