Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 4:57:23-4:58:31

Every British Cold War submarine returns today

Trafalgars, later boats, and possibly Swiftsures would be modernization candidates, while returned Resolution-class SSBNs could become guided-missile submarines.

Cold War SubmarinesForce StructureResolution Class Ballistic Missile SubmarinesRoyal NavySSGNSubmarine CrewsSubmarine ModernisationSwiftsure Class Nuclear SubmarinesTrafalgar Class Submarines
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Question

What would happen if all British Cold War submarines suddenly appeared in port today?

Short answer

Most older boats would be scrapped. Trafalgars and later submarines, possibly including Swiftsures, would be modernized, and Resolution-class SSBNs could be converted into SSGNs.

Notes

Most submarines older than the Trafalgar class would probably be scrapped because of their age and noise. Trafalgars and later boats would be modernization candidates, with the Swiftsure class a possible exception to the earlier cutoff. This assumes the submarines return in good, newly built condition. Crews would still have to be found, but the government would welcome an increase in strength without paying for new hulls. The Resolution-class ballistic-missile submarines could instead become guided-missile submarines, a conversion considered relatively quick in this scenario.