For other ships with the same name, see HMS Warspite.
The latest HMS Warspite was the third of Britain's nuclear-poweredsubmarines, and the second (and final) of the Valiant class. After entering service in 1967 she collided with a Soviet submarine the following year. A mechanical failure associated with the submarine's nuclear reactor in 1991 led to the boat being laid up at HMNB Devonport where she awaits disposal.
The second Valiant-class submarine, to be called Warspite, was ordered from Vickers-Armstrong's Barrow shipyard on 12 December 1962, and was laid down on 10 December 1963.[1] She was launched on 25 September 1965[1] by Mary Wilson, the wife of the then British Prime MinisterHarold Wilson,[2] and entered service on 18 April 1967.[1]
In October 1968 whilst following a Soviet boat identified as an Echo II-class submarine, Warspite collided with the stern and propellers of that boat. Warspite suffered damage to her fin but after surfacing to inspect damage was able to submerge and return home, and later sail to Barrow for proper repairs.[3] On 2 May 1976, Warspite was alongside in Liverpool, when she suffered a fire in her diesel generator room, in one of the most serious incidents the Royal Navy's nuclear submarines have encountered. The fire filled the aft end of the submarine with dense smoke, making it very difficult for the submarine's crew to monitor the status of the reactor, and Warspite's commanding officer considered scuttling the submarine in the event that a reactor accident did develop. The fire was eventually extinguished with the aid of civilian firefighters from the Liverpool Fire Brigade after 41⁄2 hours. The submarine's Marine Engineering Officer, Lieutenant Commander Tim Cannon, was awarded the Queen's Gallantry Medal for his role in the response to the fire.[4][5]
Warspite (left) and Conqueror (centre) with Valiant (at rear) at Devonport Navy Days on 26 August 2006
Warspite underwent a two-year refit, which was nearing completion just as the Falklands War with Argentina started. After the war ended she carried out a record breaking patrol around the Falkland Islands and the Argentine coast.[6]Warspite conducted the longest duration submerged submarine patrol made public from the dates of 25 November 1982 to 15 March 1983. A total of 111 days was spent submerged and unsupported, covering 57,085 km (30,823 nmi; 35,471 mi).[7]
The submarine was decommissioned due to mechanical failure associated with the reactor in 1991. Mainly operated out of HMNB Clyde, at Faslane (the former Clyde Submarine Base) with the Third Submarine Squadron. Her hull and reactor are currently laid up afloat at Devonport Dockyard, Plymouth until facilities are available for the long term storage of her radioactive components.
^"Warspite Blaze Awards". Navy News. February 1977. p. 31. Retrieved 10 October 2018.
^ abBallantyne, Iain (2001). Warspite Warships of the Royal Navy. Pen & Sword Books Ltd. pp. 206–207. ISBN0-85052-779-1.
^"Longest submarine patrol". Guinness World Records. Retrieved 21 March 2022.
Publications
Ballantyne, Iain (2014). Hunter Killers: The Dramatic Untold Story of the Royal Navy's Most Secret Service. London: Orion. ISBN978-1-4091-3901-0.
Blackman, Raymond V.B. Jane's Fighting Ships 1971–72. London: Sampson Low, Marston & Co., Ltd. ISBN0-354-00096-9.
Hennesey, Peter; Jinks, James (2016). The Silent Deep: The Royal Navy Submarine Service since 1945. Penguin. ISBN978-0-241-95948-0.
Gardiner, Robert; Chumbley, Stephen, eds. (1995). Conway's All The World's Fighting Ships 1947–1995. Annapolis, Maryland, USA: Naval Institute Press. ISBN1-55750-132-7.
January 07, 2023
warspite, s103, other, ships, with, same, name, warspite, latest, warspite, third, britain, nuclear, powered, submarines, second, final, valiant, class, after, entering, service, 1967, collided, with, soviet, submarine, following, year, mechanical, failure, as. For other ships with the same name see HMS Warspite The latest HMS Warspite was the third of Britain s nuclear powered submarines and the second and final of the Valiant class After entering service in 1967 she collided with a Soviet submarine the following year A mechanical failure associated with the submarine s nuclear reactor in 1991 led to the boat being laid up at HMNB Devonport where she awaits disposal HMS WarspiteHistoryUnited KingdomNameHMS WarspiteOrdered12 December 1962BuilderVickers ArmstrongsLaid down10 December 1963Launched25 September 1965Commissioned18 April 1967Decommissioned1991Honours andawards25 inherited honoursFateIn storage awaiting disposalBadgeGeneral characteristicsClass and typeValiant class submarineDisplacement4 200 long tons 4 300 t surfaced 4 900 long tons 5 000 t submergedLength285 ft 87 m Beam33 ft 3 in 10 13 m Draught27 ft 8 2 m Propulsion1 Rolls Royce pressurised water reactor 2 English Electric steam turbines 15 000 hp 11 MW 1 Paxman diesel electric generator 1 shaftSpeed20 knots 23 mph 37 km h surfaced 28 knots 32 mph 52 km h submergedRangeUnlimited except by food suppliesComplement116Armament6 21 inch 533 mm bow torpedo tubes 24 torpedoes Later equipped with RNSH UGM 84 Harpoon RN version of underwater launched cruise missile Tigerfish torpedoes Main Sonar system 2001Operational history EditThe second Valiant class submarine to be called Warspite was ordered from Vickers Armstrong s Barrow shipyard on 12 December 1962 and was laid down on 10 December 1963 1 She was launched on 25 September 1965 1 by Mary Wilson the wife of the then British Prime Minister Harold Wilson 2 and entered service on 18 April 1967 1 In October 1968 whilst following a Soviet boat identified as an Echo II class submarine Warspite collided with the stern and propellers of that boat Warspite suffered damage to her fin but after surfacing to inspect damage was able to submerge and return home and later sail to Barrow for proper repairs 3 On 2 May 1976 Warspite was alongside in Liverpool when she suffered a fire in her diesel generator room in one of the most serious incidents the Royal Navy s nuclear submarines have encountered The fire filled the aft end of the submarine with dense smoke making it very difficult for the submarine s crew to monitor the status of the reactor and Warspite s commanding officer considered scuttling the submarine in the event that a reactor accident did develop The fire was eventually extinguished with the aid of civilian firefighters from the Liverpool Fire Brigade after 41 2 hours The submarine s Marine Engineering Officer Lieutenant Commander Tim Cannon was awarded the Queen s Gallantry Medal for his role in the response to the fire 4 5 Warspite left and Conqueror centre with Valiant at rear at Devonport Navy Days on 26 August 2006 Warspite underwent a two year refit which was nearing completion just as the Falklands War with Argentina started After the war ended she carried out a record breaking patrol around the Falkland Islands and the Argentine coast 6 Warspite conducted the longest duration submerged submarine patrol made public from the dates of 25 November 1982 to 15 March 1983 A total of 111 days was spent submerged and unsupported covering 57 085 km 30 823 nmi 35 471 mi 7 The submarine was decommissioned due to mechanical failure associated with the reactor in 1991 Mainly operated out of HMNB Clyde at Faslane the former Clyde Submarine Base with the Third Submarine Squadron Her hull and reactor are currently laid up afloat at Devonport Dockyard Plymouth until facilities are available for the long term storage of her radioactive components Notable commanders of this vessel include Sandy Woodward 6 Woodward went on to command the Falklands Conflict battle group became Commander in Chief Naval Home Command and rose to the rank of admiral References Edit a b c Blackman 1971 p 336 Mrs Wilson Launches H M S Warspite Navy News October 1965 p 8 Retrieved 26 January 2019 Ballantyne Iain 2013 Hunter Killers London Orion pp 139 145 ISBN 9781409144182 Hennessey and Jinks 2016 pp 358 359 Warspite Blaze Awards Navy News February 1977 p 31 Retrieved 10 October 2018 a b Ballantyne Iain 2001 Warspite Warships of the Royal Navy Pen amp Sword Books Ltd pp 206 207 ISBN 0 85052 779 1 Longest submarine patrol Guinness World Records Retrieved 21 March 2022 Publications EditBallantyne Iain 2014 Hunter Killers The Dramatic Untold Story of the Royal Navy s Most Secret Service London Orion ISBN 978 1 4091 3901 0 Blackman Raymond V B Jane s Fighting Ships 1971 72 London Sampson Low Marston amp Co Ltd ISBN 0 354 00096 9 Hennesey Peter Jinks James 2016 The Silent Deep The Royal Navy Submarine Service since 1945 Penguin ISBN 978 0 241 95948 0 Gardiner Robert Chumbley Stephen eds 1995 Conway s All The World s Fighting Ships 1947 1995 Annapolis Maryland USA Naval Institute Press ISBN 1 55750 132 7 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title HMS Warspite S103 amp 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