Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Chapter · 17:46-19:08

The British attack-submarine force in transition

A class-by-class inventory traces the Royal Navy from early nuclear boats and Oberon-class SSKs toward Trafalgar-class attack submarines.

Churchill Class SubmarinesDiesel Electric SubmarinesNuclear Attack SubmarinesOberon Class SubmarinesSubmarinesSwiftsure Class Nuclear SubmarinesTrafalgar Class SubmarinesValiant Class Submarines
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Notes

The Trafalgar class had begun entering the water but was not yet operational, with HMS Trafalgar not due to commission until 1983. Swiftsure, Churchill, and Valiant-class nuclear boats therefore carried the attack-submarine burden at the opening of the decade. Oberon and Porpoise-class diesel-electric submarines added a substantial conventional component. The often-overlooked Swiftsure class performed extensive work between the earlier nuclear boats and the later Trafalgars and Astutes. The inventory again warns against treating submarines under construction as immediate capability.