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Trafalgar-class submarine

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The Trafalgar class submarines are, until the introduction of the Astute class, the Royal Navy's most advanced nuclear fleet submarines (SSNs).

Essentially a refinement of the Swiftsure class and designed six years later than its predecessor, the first Trafalgar class submarine was ordered on April 7, 1977 and completed in 1983. Turbulent was ordered on July 28, 1978; Tireless on July 5, 1979; Torbay on June 26, 1981; Trenchant on March 22, 1983; Talent on September 10, 1984; and finally Triumph on July 3, 1986.

The major improvements include a new reactor core and the Type 2020 sonar. Internal layout is almost identical to the Swiftsure, and it is only 2.5 metres longer.

Rather than the seven/nine-bladed propeller used by the Swiftsures, Trafalgar class submarines use pump-jet propulsion - a high-pitch, low-revolution propeller which is much quieter but much heavier than conventional propeller designs. Development of this system was not complete in time for installation in the class's name-ship vessel, HMS Trafalgar, and so the pump-jet was first used in the second in the class, HMS Turbulent. The hull is also covered in anechoic tiles which are designed to absorb sound rather than reflect it, making the boats more difficult to detect with active sonar.

The Trafalgar class have strengthened fins and retractable hydroplanes, allowing them to surface through thick ice.

In 1993 Triumph sailed to Australia, covering a distance of 41,000 miles whilst submerged and without any forward support. This marked the longest solo deployment by any nuclear submarine.

The Trafalgar class was to be replaced by the Future Attack Submarine (FASM), however this project was effectively cancelled in 2001 and replaced by the Maritime Underwater Future Capability. It seems likely that the Astute class will replace the Trafalgar class as well as the Swiftsure class.

Service Problems

Despite being regarded as sophisticated designs, the Trafalgar class have suffered from a number of technical difficulties. In 1998 Trenchant experienced a steam leak, forcing the crew to shut down the nuclear reactor. In 2000 cracks were discovered in the reactor cooling pipes of Tireless, forcing her to proceed to Gibraltar on diesel power. In August 2000 it was revealed that with Tireless still at Gibraltar, Torbay, Turbulent, Trenchant and Talent were at Devonport for refit or repair and with Trafalgar undergoing sea trials, only one boat - Triumph - was fully operational. By 2005 refits had reportedly corrected these problems.

In 2007, a small explosion aboard HMS Tireless resulted in the death of two sailors and injury of another. The accident took place while the submarine was submerged under the Arctic icecap during a joint British-American exercise. An Oxygen Candle in the forward section of the submarine was thought to be responsible for the accident [1].

General characteristics

Tigerfish and Harpoons are no longer used by any submarine class within the Royal Navy.

  • Sensors:
    • sonar (bow, flank, active intercept, and towed arrays)
    • periscopes (attack and search)
    • collision avoidance radar
  • Command System:
    • SMCS
    • SMCS-NG (based on Microsoft Windows) from 2004 onwards

Units

The Trafalgar class includes seven boats:

Additional Information:

The name of Trafalgar is derived from the original Arabic name رأس الطرف الأغر (Al-taraf al-agharr) meaning "Edge Of Cave", It refers to the battle which took place between the British Fleet and the combined fleets of France and Spanish, known as the Battle of Trafalgar.

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