NAVYPEDIA

Photo

Resolution 1978  

Ships

Name	No	Yard No	Builder	Laid down	Launched	Comp	Fate
Resolution	S22		Vickers-Armstrong, Barrow	26.2.1964	15.9.1966	2.10.1967	for disposal 10.1994
Repulse	S23		Vickers-Armstrong, Barrow	12.3.1965	4.11.1967	28.9.1968	for disposal 8.1996
Renown	S26		Cammell Laird, Birkenhead	25.6.1964	25.2.1967	15.11.1968	for disposal 2.1996
Revenge	S27		Cammell Laird, Birkenhead	19.5.1965	15.3.1968	4.12.1969	for disposal 5.1995

Technical data

Displacement standard, t
Displacement normal, t	7600 / 8500
Length, m	109.7 pp 129.5 oa
Breadth, m	10.1
Draught, m	9.10
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 / 25
Fuel, t	nuclear
Endurance, nm(kts)	practically unlimited
Armament	16 Polaris A-3 SLBM (16 UGM-27C), 6 - 533 TT (bow)
Electronic equipment	type 1003 radar, type 2001, type 2007, type 2023 sonars, UAB/UAC ECM suite, DCB CCS
Complement	143
Diving depth operational, m	230

Standard scale images

Graphics

Project history

At the 1962 Nassau Conference, the momentous decision was taken to transfer responsibility for the United Kingdom's nuclear deterrent from the RAF to the RN, following the cancellation of the airborne Skybolt system. Instead the RN was to build five nuclear ballistic missile sub-names (SSBNs) based broadly on the missile compartment of the US Navy's Lafayette class, with British equipment and machinery, but armed with missiles, tubes and fire control systems supplied from the United States.

A special Polaris Executive was set up to supervise the building of the boats and the creation of training and support facilities, and so successful was the collaboration between the administrative and technical sides that the first boat, Resolution, went on patrol as planned in 1968. With Dreadnought it was the only British post-1945 defence programme to remain within its financial budget. Only one problem was encountered: the figure of five boats was arrived at after a careful study of refit schedules, and when the new Labour Defence Minister, Denis Healey, cancelled the order for the fifth boat (named Ramillies) as a gesture of appeasement, it became difficult to guarantee that one Polaris 'bomber' would remain on patrol at all times. Up to 1992, however, there had officially been no gap in the patrol.

Apart from the use of British equipment and design features from the Valiant class, the main departure from the Lafayette class was the rejection of diving planes on the fin. Although these are standard in USN submarines, British designers maintain that their advantages of better slow-speed control do not outweigh their disadvantages.

Modernizations

1982, Renown; 1984, Resolution; 1986, Repulse; 1988, Revenge: - 16 Polaris A-3 SLBM, type 1003 radar, type 2023 sonar, UAB/UAC ECM suite, DCB CCS; + 16 Polaris A-3TK SLBM (Chevaline warhead), type 1006(1) radar, type 2019 PARIS, type 2047 sonars, UAL(1) ECM suite, DCB/DCG CCS

Naval service

No significant events.