Name HMS Excalibur Completed 22 February 1958 Fate Scrapped 1968 Length 54 m Builder Vickers-Armstrongs | Ordered 26 August 1947 Nickname(s) The Excruciator Launched 25 February 1955 Draft 3.4 m | |
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Notes Built at a cost of £1,142,000 | ||
HMS Excalibur was the sister ship of HMS Explorer, the two submarines being the only High test peroxide (HTP) powered submarines to be constructed by the Royal Navy. She is the only ship to be named as such, and was named in honour of the sword of King Arthur of the Arthurian legend.
Contents
For details of the decisions leading to their construction, and problems affecting the vessels, please refer to the article on HMS Explorer.
Operation
Both Excalibur and Explorer were assigned to the 3rd Submarine Squadron although due to their experimental nature, they tended to operate independently, accompanied by their depot ship HMS Kingfisher and a fuel carrier, RFA Spabeck. They later acted as high speed underwater targets for the Royal Navy's prototype nuclear-powered submarine HMS Dreadnought.
Periscope
The submarine's periscope survives. It was installed in the starter's hut at the Golf House Club, the golf club at Elie and Earlsferry, Scotland; players and visitors may use it to view the golf course.