Ordered 31 August 1960 Commissioned 18 July 1966 Status Laid up Launched 3 December 1963 Draft 8.2 m | Laid down 22 January 1962 Decommissioned 12 August 1994 Construction started 22 January 1962 Length 87 m | |
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The sixth, and most recent HMS Valiant was the second of Britain's nuclear-powered submarines, and the first of the two-unit Valiant class. She was ordered on 31 August 1960, laid down 22 January 1962, launched on 3 December 1963 by Lady Thorneycroft, and finally entered service 18 July 1966.
Operational history
She was refitted in 1970, 1977 and 1989, and participated in the Falklands War in 1982, when she transmitted more than 300 early air-warning alerts and spent 101 days on patrol off Argentina's Patagonian coast. Valiant suffered minor damage while submerged when an Argentine aircraft coming back from a mission jettisoned its bombs near the submarine.
In November 2010, it was reported in Hansard that Valiant had run aground in the North Norwegian Sea in March 1991.
Following the development of engine trouble in June 1994, she was paid off 12 August 1994.
Her hull and reactor are currently laid up afloat at Devonport Dockyard, Plymouth, Devon until facilities are available for the long term storage of her radioactive components.
Courageous was selected for the museum ship to represent the SSN fleet of the Royal Navy during the Cold War. Components were removed from Valiant to restore Courageous.