HMS Warspite (S103)

For other ships with the same name, see HMS Warspite.
HMS Warspite
History
Name: HMS Warspite
Ordered: 12 December 1962
Builder: Vickers-Armstrongs
Laid down: 10 December 1963
Launched: 25 September 1965
Commissioned: 18 April 1967
Decommissioned: 1991
Fate: In storage, awaiting disposal
Badge:
General characteristics
Class and type: Valiant-class submarine
Displacement:
  • 4,200 long tons (4,300 t) surfaced
  • 4,900 long tons (5,000 t) submerged
Length: 285 ft (87 m)
Beam: 33 ft 3 in (10.13 m)
Draught: 27 ft (8.2 m)
Propulsion:
Speed:
  • 20 knots (23 mph; 37 km/h) surfaced
  • 28 knots (32 mph; 52 km/h) submerged
Range: Unlimited, except by food supplies
Complement: 116
Armament:
  • 6 × 21 in (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 2001

The latest HMS Warspite was the third of Britain's nuclear-powered submarines, and the second (and final) of the Valiant class.

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 Minister Harold Wilson, and entered service on 18 April 1967.[1]

Warspite underwent a two-year refit, which was nearing completion just as the Falklands War started. After the war ended she carried out a record breaking patrol around the islands and the Argentine coast.[2]

She was also part of a BBC television documentory called Submarine.

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.[2] Woodward went on to command the Falklands Conflict battle group, became Commander-in-Chief Naval Home Command and rose to the rank of admiral.

Warspite (left) and Conqueror (centre) with Valiant (at rear) at Devonport Navy Days, 26 August 2006.

Commanding Officers

FromToCaptain 19681969Cdre John Hanbury Hervey CB OBE RN 19801984Cdre Jonathan Gervaise Fitzpatrick Cooke OBE RN

Collision with a Russian submarine

In October 1968 whilst following a Soviet boat identified as an Echo II 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]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Blackman 1971, p. 336.
  2. 1 2 Ballantyne, Iain (2001). Warspite Warships of the Royal Navy. Pen & Sword Books Ltd. pp. 206–207. ISBN 0-85052-779-1.
  3. ↑ Ballantyne, Iain (2013). Hunter Killers. London: Orion. pp. 139–145. ISBN 9781409144182.

Publications

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