Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 1:33:03-1:33:16

Why Resolution-class submarines inherited battleship names

As ballistic-missile submarines assumed the Royal Navy's senior capital-ship role, they also inherited names associated with battleships such as Resolution and Revenge.

Ballistic Missile SubmarinesCapital ShipsResolution Class Ballistic Missile SubmarinesRoyal NavyShip Naming
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Question

Why were battleship names such as Resolution reused for Royal Navy ballistic-missile submarines?

Short answer

Because the submarines had become the fleet's senior capital ships and inherited the naming tradition that accompanied that status.

Notes

The repeated names mark an institutional succession. Ballistic-missile submarines became the senior capital ships in the fleet and therefore received names drawn from the older capital-ship tradition. Naming practice can advertise a change in force hierarchy even when the new vessels look and operate very differently from battleships.