HMS Dreadnought (S101)

The seventh HMS "Dreadnought" (S101) was the United Kingdom's first nuclear-powered submarine, built by Vickers Armstrongs at Barrow-in-Furness.

Design and construction

The Royal Navy had been researching designs for nuclear propulsion plants since 1946, but this work was suspended indefinitely in October 1952"Vanguard to Trident; British Naval Policy since World War II", Eric J. Grove, The Bodley Head, 1987, ISBN 0-370-31021-7] In 1955 the United States Navy completed USS|Nautilus|SSN-571|6, the world's first nuclear-powered submarine. During subsequent exercises with the Royal Navy, "Nautilus" demonstrated the advantages of the nuclear submarine against British anti-submarine forces, who had developed extensive anti-submarine warfare techniques during the Second Battle of the Atlantic. The Admiralty appreciated the utility of such vessels and under the drive of the First Sea Lord, Admiral Lord Louis, Earl Mountbatten and the Flag Officer Submarines, Sir Wilfred Woods, plans were formed to build nuclear-powered submarines ["Warships of the Royal Navy", Captain John E. Moore RN, Jane's Publishing, 1979, ISBN 0-531-03730-4] .

Although the plan was to build all-British nuclear submarines, much time would be saved by accepting the American technological lead and taking advantage of US nuclear technology. The excellent relations between Admiral Mountbatten and US Navy Chief of Naval Operations Arleigh Burke, expedited obtaining that help. This was despite Rear Admiral Hyman Rickover, in charge of the American naval nuclear power program, being set against any transfer of technology, indeed, Rickover prevented Mountbatten inspecting USS "Nautilus". It was not until a visit to Britain in 1956 that Rickover changed his mind and withdrew his objections . Although Rickover wished to supply the third generation S3W reactor of the "Skate" class, Mountbatten exerted his influence and the entire machinery system for an American "Skipjack" class submarine, with its fifth generation S5W reactor, was obtained. This was known as the "American Sector" (see 1958 US-UK Mutual Defence Agreement). The hull and combat systems of "Dreadnought" were of British design and construction hull, although British access to the Electric Boat Company influenced the hull form and construction practices.

"Dreadnought" was laid down on 12 June 1959, and launched by Her Majesty the Queen on Trafalgar Day, 21 October 1960. The reactor was embarked in 1962 and "Dreadnought" made her first dive, in Ramsden Dock, on 10 January 1963. She commissioned on 17 April 1963.

During "Dreadnought's" construction, Rolls-Royce, in collaboration with the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority at the Admiralty Research Station, HMS "Vulcan", at Dounreay, developed a completely new British nuclear propulsion system. On 31 August 1960, the UK's second nuclear-powered submarine was ordered from Vickers Armstrong and, fitted with Rolls-Royce's PWR1 nuclear plant, HMS|Valiant|S102|2 was the first all-British nuclear submarine.

ervice

In the mid-1960s, "Dreadnought's" visits included trips to Norfolk, Virginia, Bermuda, Rotterdam, and Kiel. She was at Gibraltar in 1965, 1966, and 1967, and on 19 September 1967, she left Rosyth, Scotland for Singapore on a sustained high-speed run. The round trip finished as 4640 miles surfaced and 26545 miles submerged.

During her career, "Dreadnought" performed many varied missions. On 24 June 1967, she was ordered to sink the wrecked and drifting German ship Essberger Chemist. Three torpedoes hit along the length of the target, but the gunners of HMS|Salisbury|F32|6 finished the job by piercing the tanks, which were keeping "Essberger Chemist" just afloat.

Apart from minor hull-cracking problems, "Dreadnought" proved to be a reliable vessel, popular with her crews. On 10 September 1970, she completed a major refit at Rosyth, Scotland, in the course of which her nuclear core was refuelled and her ballast tank valves were changed to reduce noise.

On 3 March 1971, "Dreadnought" became the first British submarine to surface at the North Pole. In 1973 she took part in the Royal Navy's first annual Group Deployment, when a group of warships and auxiliaries would undertake a long deployment to maintain fighting efficiency and "show the flag" around the world.

Together with the frigates HMS|Alacrity|F174|2 and HMS|Phoebe|F42|2, "Dreadnought" took part in Operation Journeyman, a deployment to the South Atlantic in 1977 (prior to the Falklands War) to deter possible Argentine aggression against the Falkland Islands.

Fate

Due to machinery damage and the limited refit facilities then available for SSNs, "Dreadnought" was withdrawn from service in 1980."Dreadnought" is now at Rosyth Naval Dockyard, laid up indefinitely while her radioactive contamination decays. Her nuclear fuel has been removed and she has been stripped of useful equipment.

External Links

*HMS Dreadnought Association website - [http://www.hmsdreadnought.co.uk Click here for association news, Dreadnought history, shop and more.]

References