Name HMS Warspite Laid down 10 December 1963 Decommissioned 1991 Launched 25 September 1965 Draft 8.2 m | Ordered 12 December 1962 Commissioned 18 April 1967 Construction started 10 December 1963 Length 87 m Builder Vickers-Armstrongs | |
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Fate In storage, awaiting disposal | ||
The latest HMS Warspite was the third of Britain's nuclear-powered submarines, and the second (and final) of the Valiant class. Entering service in 1967 and collided with a Soviet submarine in 1968. Following a mechanical failure associated with the submarine's nuclear reactor in 1991, the boat was laid up at HMNB Devonport and awaits disposal.
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Operational history
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. She was launched on 25 September 1965 by Mary Wilson, the wife of the then British Prime Minister Harold Wilson, and entered service on 18 April 1967.
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.
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.
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. Woodward went on to command the Falklands Conflict battle group, became Commander-in-Chief Naval Home Command and rose to the rank of admiral.