HMS Trafalgar (S107)

History of HMS Trafalgar (S107)

The Trafalgar-class nuclear-powered attack submarine fleet was adopted by the Royal Navy (RN) in the mid-1980s as the successor to the Swiftsure-class in the 1970s. The new ships are larger, heavier and more efficient than the types they replace, seven in total. HMS Trafalgar (S107), the lead ship of the class, was laid at Barrow-in-Furness on 25 April 1979 by Vickers Shipbuilding and Engineering.

She was launched on July 1, 1981, and officially entered service on May 27, 1983. She led operations until her retirement on December 4, 2009.

As of December 2017, only three of the original ships - Trenchant, Talent and Triumph - are still in service.

The

Trafalgar class is more or less an extension of the previous Swiftsure ships. The hull is oversized and care was taken to further reduce the acoustic signature by using low-reflection sound absorbing tiles. HMS Trafalgar does not have the pipeline-pump jet propulsion installed on the rest of the boats, instead relying on conventional propellers.

Dimensions include a length of 280 feet, a beam of 32 feet, and a draft of 31 feet. Power comes from a Rolls-Royce PWR1 series reactor connected to 2 GEC steam turbines, 2 WH Allen turbine generators and 2 Paxman diesel generators.

Underwater speeds can reach over 30 knots, and thanks to the nuclear adaptation, the range is essentially unlimited.

There are 130 crew members on board, a significant increase from the 116 crew members of Swiftsure class vessels. In addition to the standard 5 x 21 inch (533 mm) torpedo tube armament, the Trafalgar - and her entire class - are also equipped to fire U.S. Tomahawk (Block IV) cruise missiles.

The ships were given the traditional submarine shape with a tapered bow and stern. The sails are set forward amidships, and the empennage is arranged in a cruciform shape. The top of the deck is relatively flat and the line runs almost the entire length of the boat.

At the time, the Trafalgar class was a very advanced submarine, known for its low noise levels and effective intelligence gathering capabilities.

In 1996, HMS Trafalgar had a career in misery when it ran aground off the coast of Scotland (Isle of Skye). However, while participating in "Real Operations" in 2001 (after 9/11), she managed to see combat in action before retiring in 2009. The operation fired cruise missiles at Al Qaeda/Taliban positions in Afghanistan.

She returned to British mainland waters in March 2002, but ran aground again in November, causing damage and reported injuries.

The

Trafalgar class has been replaced by the Astute class with seven ships (three in service at the time of writing).

Specification

Basic

Roles

Dimensions

Weight

Performance

Performance

Armor

Wing