Royal Navy Submarine Service

File:Smfirstholland.jpg, Gosport.]]

In 1900 the Royal Navy ordered five submarines from Vickers Shipbuilding and Engineering of Barrow-in-Furness, designed by Electric Boat Company. The following year the first submarine, {{HMS|Holland 1||2}}, was launched, and the navy recruited six officers for the Submarine Service, under Reginald Bacon as Inspecting Captain of Submarines. At the beginning of World War I it consisted of 168 officers, 1,250 ratings, and 62 submarines.{{cite book|last1=Lambert|title=The Submarine Service, 1900–1918|page=x–xii, xxix}} During the war it was awarded five of the Royal Navy's 14 Victoria Crosses of the war, the first was to Lieutenant Norman Holbrook, commanding officer of {{HMS|B11||2}}, for passing through minefields to sink the Ottoman warship Mesudiye.

Late in the war, the Royal Navy introduced the large K-class submarines. In order to be fast enough to operate alongside the battlefleet, they used steam propulsion while surfaced. En route to a training exercise with the fleet in a disaster, afterwards nicknamed "the battle of May Island", two K-class submarines were sunk, with death of most of their crew, and three more and a light cruiser damaged.

At the start of the war, the Royal Navy had 60 submarines with another nine under construction. By August 1945 a further 178 had been commissioned and 76 had been lost to all causes, the majority of the losses in the Mediterranean.{{cite web |url=http://www.naval-history.net/WW2CampaignRoyalNavy.htm |title=Royal Navy in 1939 and 1945 |publisher=Naval-history.net |work=CAMPAIGN SUMMARIES OF WORLD WAR 2 |date= 8 July 2011|access-date=3 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160901021910/http://www.naval-history.net/WW2CampaignRoyalNavy.htm |archive-date=1 September 2016 |url-status=live }}

In the Mediterranean (during the Siege of Malta), British U-class submarines began operations against Italy as early as January 1941. Larger submarines began operations in 1940, but after 50% losses per mission, they were withdrawn. U-class submarines operated from the Manoel Island Base known as HMS Talbot. Unfortunately no bomb-proof pens were available as the building project had been scrapped before the war, owing to cost-cutting policies. The new force was named the Tenth Submarine Flotilla and was placed under Flag Officer Submarines, Admiral Max Horton, who appointed Commander George Simpson to command the unit.{{cite thesis |url=https://www.academia.edu/7433571 |first=Stephen P. |last=Gill |title=Forging the Flotilla: The Royal Navy's Submarine Campaign from Malta 1940–1943 |date=October 2011 |publisher=National University of Ireland Maynooth}} Administratively, the Tenth Flotilla operated under the First Submarine Flotilla at Alexandria, itself under the admiral commanding in the Mediterranean, Andrew Cunningham. In reality, Cunningham gave Simpson and his unit a free hand. Until U-class vessels could be made available in numbers, British T-class submarines were used. They had successes, but suffered heavy losses when they began operations on 20 September 1940. Owing to the shortage of torpedoes, enemy ships could not be attacked unless the target in question was a warship, tanker or other "significant vessel".{{sfnp|Spooner|1996|pp=26-27}}{{sfnp|Holland|2003|pp=84–85}} The flotilla's performance of the fleet was mixed at first. They sank {{convert|37000|LT|t|lk=on}} of Italian shipping; half by one vessel, the submarine {{HMS|Truant||2}}. It accounted for one Italian submarine, nine merchant vessels and one Motor Torpedo Boat (MTB). The loss of nine submarines and their trained crews and commanders was serious. Most of the losses were to mines.{{sfnp|Spooner|1996|p=29}} On 14 January 1941, U-class submarines arrived, and the submarine offensive began in earnest.{{sfnp|Spooner|1996|p=30}}

File:On Board HM Submarine Tribune, 1942 TR493.jpg

One of the most famous Mediterranean submarines was {{HMS|Upholder|P37|2}}, commanded for its entire career by Lieutenant-Commander Malcolm Wanklyn. He received the Victoria Cross for attacking a well-defended convoy on 25 May 1941 and sinking an Italian liner, the {{SS|Conte Rosso||2}}. In her 16-month operational career in the Mediterranean, before she was lost in April 1942, Upholder carried out 24 patrols and sank around 119,000 tons of Axis ships – 3 U-boats, a destroyer, 15 transport ships with possibly a cruiser and another destroyer also sunk. Upholder probably struck a mine on 13 April 1942.

On 8 September 1944, C-in-C Mediterranean ordered that the submarine base at La Maddalena be closed, and that Tenth Flotilla be disestablished and the submarines be incorporated into the First Submarine Flotilla at Malta.{{cite book |last=Walters |first=Derek |title=The History of the British 'U' Class Submarine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VyeJ9DOXcOAC&q=%22Tenth+Submarine+Flotilla%22&pg=PA150|date=2004 |publisher=Casemate Publishers |isbn=978-1-84415-131-8 |page=150 |access-date=17 January 2016}}

The submarine force was cut back after the end of the war. The first British nuclear-powered submarine {{HMS|Dreadnought|S101|2}} was launched in 1960, based around a U.S.-built nuclear reactor. This was complemented by the {{sclass|Valiant|submarine|4}} from 1966, which used a new British-built Rolls-Royce PWR1 reactor. The UK's strategic nuclear deterrent was transferred to the Royal Navy from the Royal Air Force at midnight on 30 June 1968, i.e. 1 July. The {{sclass|Resolution|submarine|4}} ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs) were introduced to carry out this role under the Polaris programme from 1968. These carried US-built UGM-27 Polaris A-3 missiles and were later replaced by the {{sclass|Vanguard|submarine|4}} submarines and the Trident missile system from 1994.

In 1978 the Flag Officer Submarines double-hatted as NATO Commander Submarine Force Eastern Atlantic (COMSUBEASTLANT) part of Allied Command Atlantic, moved from HMS Dolphin at Gosport to the Northwood Headquarters.{{cite web |url=http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/AboutDefence/WhatWeDo/DoctrineOperationsandDiplomacy/PJHQ/NorthwoodHeadquarters.htm |title=Northwood Headquarters |work=Royal Navy |access-date=22 May 2010 |archive-url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20121212174735/http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/AboutDefence/WhatWeDo/DoctrineOperationsandDiplomacy/PJHQ/History.htm |archive-date=12 December 2012}}

{{HMS|Conqueror|S48|6}} made history in 1982 during the Falklands War when she became the first nuclear-powered submarine to sink a surface ship, the {{Ship|ARA|General Belgrano||2}}. {{HMS|Splendid|S106|6}} and {{HMS|Spartan|S105|6}} hunted the Argentine Navy carrier group Task Group 79.1 but did not engage.

File:HMS Superb MOD 45138106.jpg in Scotland.]]

At the end of the Cold War in 1989 the Flag Officer Submarines, who was also COMSUBEASTLANT, a rear admiral, who , commanded a fleet of 30 submarines, which were grouped into four squadrons (First, Second, Third, and Tenth (SSBN)) at three bases.

In May 1991 {{sclass|Oberon|submarine|2}}s {{HMS|Opossum|S19|2}} and her sister {{HMS|Otus|S18|2}} returned to the submarine base {{HMS|Dolphin|shore establishment|6}} in Gosport from patrol in the Persian Gulf flying Jolly Rogers, indicating successful actions.{{cite news |url=https://issuu.com/navynews/docs/199105/3 |title=Phil lies low... |newspaper=Navy News |date=May 1991 |page=3 |access-date=14 April 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170415103917/https://issuu.com/navynews/docs/199105/3 |archive-date=15 April 2017 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }}

In 1999 {{HMS|Splendid|S106|2}} participated in the Kosovo Conflict and became the first Royal Navy submarine to fire a Tomahawk cruise missile in anger.{{cite news |first=Barton |last=Gellman |url=http://www.nwc.navy.mil/balkans/bc2m22p4.htm |title=U.S., NATO Launch Attacks on Yugoslavia |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=25 March 1999 |access-date=24 May 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060519082239/http://www.nwc.navy.mil/balkans/bc2m22p4.htm |archive-date=19 May 2006 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}

During Operation Veritas, the attack on Al-Qaeda and Taliban forces following the September 11 attacks in the United States,{{HMS|Trafalgar|S107|2}} was the first Royal Navy submarine to launch Tomahawk cruise missiles against targets in Afghanistan.{{cite web |url=http://www.btinternet.com/~warship/News/afghan9.htm |title=Trafalgar Returns |date=1 March 2002 |work=Warship News |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070621174940/http://www.btinternet.com/~warship/News/afghan9.htm |archive-date=21 June 2007}} {{HMS|Triumph|S93|2}} was also involved in the initial strikes.{{cite news |url=http://www.navynews.co.uk/articles/2001/0112/0001122402.asp |title=Home and away over Christmas |newspaper=Navy News |date=24 December 2001 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030402154213/http://navynews.co.uk/articles/2001/0112/0001122402.asp |archive-date=2 April 2003}} {{HMS|Turbulent|S87|2}} launched fourteen Tomahawks during the 2003 invasion of Iraq.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk_news/story/0,3604,938338,00.html |title=Cruise missile sub back in UK |first=Richard |last=Norton-Taylor |newspaper=The Guardian |date=17 April 2003}}

In 2011, HMS Triumph and Turbulent participated in Operation Ellamy. They launched Tomahawk cruise missiles at targets in Libya, firing the first shots of the operation.{{cite web |url=http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/MilitaryOperations/BritishArmedForcesLaunchStrikeAgainstLibyanAirDefenceSystems.htm |title=British Armed Forces launch strike against Libyan Air Defence systems |access-date=19 March 2011 |date=19 March 2011 |work=Ministry of Defence |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121006175312/http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/MilitaryOperations/BritishArmedForcesLaunchStrikeAgainstLibyanAirDefenceSystems.htm |archive-date=6 October 2012 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }}

In April 2016, The Sunday Times reported that Royal Navy submarines were to resume under-ice operations in the Arctic.{{cite news |title=UK attack subs return to Arctic |url=http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/news/uk_news/Defence/article1686278.ece |access-date=10 April 2016 |newspaper=The Sunday Times |date=10 April 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160419204343/http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/news/uk_news/Defence/article1686278.ece |archive-date=19 April 2016 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }} Such operations have not taken place since 2007 after a fatal explosion on board {{HMS|Tireless|S88|2}}. The crews of all seven active Royal Navy attack submarines will receive training on how to navigate below and "punch through" ice floes.

As of 2018, there had been three near misses between submerged Royal Navy submarines and civilian vessels due to "an insufficient appreciation of the location of surface ships in the vicinity", according to a Marine Accident Investigation Branch report.{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/07/16/royal-navy-submarine-stena-ferry-came-within-100m-colliding/ |title=Royal Navy submarine and Stena ferry 'came within 100m of colliding' |last=Nicholls |first=Dominic |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |url-access=subscription |date=16 July 2020 |access-date=28 July 2020}}

For an extended period of time, the navy has had difficulty in attracting specialist staff into the nuclear submarine force, in part because of the long undersea patrols. In 2008 there were shortfalls of 28% in senior nuclear engineering officers, 23% in sonar and sensor operators, and 20% in nuclear weapons system junior ranks.{{cite news |url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/default_content/12465970.navy-face-specialist-staff-shortages-key-trident-sections/ |title=Navy face specialist staff shortages on some of its key Trident sections |newspaper=The Herald |location=Scotland |date=30 May 2008 |access-date=24 July 2023}} In 2018, the National Audit Office highlighted the shortage of 337 skilled Royal Navy nuclear staff.{{cite web |url=https://www.nao.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/The-Defence-Nuclear-Enterprise-a-landscape-Summary.pdf |title=The Defence Nuclear Enterprise: a landscape review |id=HC 1003 |publisher=National Audit Office |date=22 May 2018 |access-date=24 July 2023}} In 2023, Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Sir Ben Key said recruiting for the submarine service was still proving difficult and the service was in a "war for talent".{{cite news |url=https://news.sky.com/story/royal-navy-boss-reveals-fears-over-staffing-of-uks-nuclear-deterrent-12905148 |title=Royal Navy boss reveals fears over staffing of UK's nuclear deterrent |last=Haynes |first=Deborah |work=Sky News |date=19 June 2023 |access-date=24 July 2023}}

File:Royal Navy Submariner's Dolphin Badge MOD 45155740.jpg.]]

{{Main|Submarine Command Course}}

'Perisher' (as the Submarine Command Course is better known) is a 24-week course all officers must take prior to serving as an executive officer on board a Royal Navy submarine. It has been run twice a year since 1917, usually starting on 2 July and 14 November each year. It is widely regarded as one of the toughest command courses in the world, with a historical failure rate of 25%.{{cite web |url=http://www.navy.mil/navydata/cno/n87/usw/issue_18/perisher.htm |first=David |last=Nagle |title=Perisher Submarine Command Training in the Royal Navy |work=United States Navy |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131018024859/http://www.navy.mil/navydata/cno/n87/usw/issue_18/perisher.htm |archive-date=18 October 2013}}

If at any point during the training a candidate is withdrawn from training they will be nominated for boat transfer and kept occupied until the transfer. Their bag is packed for them and they are notified of the failure when the boat arrives. On departure they are presented with a bottle of whisky. A failure on Perisher means that the unsuccessful candidate is not permitted to return to sea as a member of the Submarine Service (although they are still allowed to wear the dolphin badge). They are, however, permitted to remain in the Royal Navy, moving into the surface fleet.

In more recent years, the United States Navy has sent some of its own submariner officers to undergo the 'Perisher', in order to foster and maintain closer links with the Royal Navy.

In 1995 the Royal Netherlands Navy took over the Perisher course for diesel-electric submarines, since the Royal Navy no longer operates boats of that type. The course is attended by candidate submarine commanders from navies around the world.{{cite web |url=http://www.navy.mil/navydata/cno/n87/usw/issue_28/dutch.html |first=Rich |last=Massie |title=U.S. Submariner Qualifies for SSK Command in the RNLN Submarine Command Course |work=United States Navy |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121219145602/http://www.navy.mil/navydata/cno/n87/usw/issue_28/dutch.html |archive-date=19 December 2012}}

The Submarine Service has many traditions that are not found in the surface fleet. These include slang unique to submariners (such as referring to the torpedo storage compartment as the Bomb Shop and the diesel engine room as the Donk Shop{{cite book |first=Rick |last=Jolly |title=Jackspeak: A Guide to British Naval Slang & Usage |publisher=FoSAMMA |year=2000 |isbn=0-9514305-2-1}}), a special communications code known as the Dolphin Code and the entitlement of a sailor to wear Dolphins and black cap covers upon entering the service. These are only awarded after completion of training and qualification in ships' systems during the first submarine posting (Part III training).

{{main|Use of the Jolly Roger by submarines}}

File:Hm Submarine Proteus, Returns Home With a Record of Her Mediterranean Successes. Plymouth, 30 October 1942. A12500.jpg flag of {{HMS|Proteus|N29}} in 1942; the bars symbolizing ships sunk by torpedo, the stars denote ships sunk by gunfire and the crossed can openers record surviving a ramming.]]

Rear-Admiral Arthur Wilson VC, the Controller of the Royal Navy, has gone down in history as the officer who claimed in 1901 "[Submarines are] underhand, unfair, and damned un-English. ... treat all submarines as pirates in wartime ... and hang all crews,"{{cite book |quote=Underhand... and damned Un-English... treat all submarines as pirates in wartime ... and hang all crews. |first=J. R. |last=Hill |year=1989 |title=Arms Control at Sea |publisher=Routledge |isbn=0-415-01280-5 |page=35}} cites {{cite book |editor-first=A. J. |editor-last=Marder |editor-link=Arthur Marder |title=Fear God and Dread Nought: The correspondence of Admiral of the Fleet Lord Fisher of Kilverstone (Volume I) |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=1961 |page=332}} In fact he had advocated the purchase of submarines the year before, and he was actually expressing a desire to continue the policy of discouraging foreign powers from building submarines while the Royal Navy developed its own in secret.{{cite book|last1=Lambert|title=The Submarine Service, 1900–1918|page=xi}} The legend goes that in response to these top secret remarks of Wilson's made 13 years earlier Lieutenant-Commander (later Admiral Sir) Max Horton first flew the Jolly Roger on return to port after sinking the German cruiser {{SMS|Hela||2}} and the destroyer {{SMS|S-116||2}} in 1914 while in command of the E-class submarine {{HMS|E9||2}}.{{cite web |url=http://www.submarine-museum.co.uk/hms-alliance/118 |title=The Jolly Roger |work=Royal Navy Submarine Museum |year=2010 |access-date=14 April 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304054930/http://www.submarine-museum.co.uk/hms-alliance/118 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}

In World War II it became common practice for the submarines of the Royal Navy to fly the Jolly Roger on completion of a successful combat mission where some action had taken place, but as an indicator of bravado and stealth rather than of lawlessness. For example, in 1982 returning from the Falklands conflict {{HMS|Conqueror|S48|2}} flew the Jolly Roger depicting one dagger for the SBS deployment to South Georgia and one torpedo for her sinking of the Argentinian cruiser General Belgrano. The Jolly Roger is now the emblem of the Royal Navy Submarine Service.{{cite web |title= A Tribute to the Past |url= http://www.solarnavigator.net/royal_navy_submarines.htm |work= Royal Navy Submarines |access-date= 24 May 2006 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20060529091539/http://www.solarnavigator.net/royal_navy_submarines.htm |archive-date= 29 May 2006 |url-status= live |df= dmy-all }}

First officially adopted in the 1950s, qualified submariners are presented the Golden Dolphins badge to wear on their uniform on the left breast above any medals.{{Cite web|title=New badge for trainee Royal Navy submariners|url=https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-latest-activity/news/2020/september/29/200929-new-badge-for-trainee-royal-navy-submariners|access-date=2022-01-22|website=www.royalnavy.mod.uk|language=en}} The current badge, adopted in 1972, depicts two golden dolphins facing an anchor surmounted by St Edwards Crown. In September 2020, it was announced that all trainee submariners would be issued their own dolphins badge; similar to the Golden Dolphins in size and shape, though completely black.

Submariners who serve on the Trident 'Deterrent' patrols are eligible for another badge - the 'Deterrent Patrol Badge'. The badge is similar to the American SSBN Deterrent Patrol insignia, though bears the motto 'Always Ready'. It is awarded in three grades based on the amount of patrols completed: Pewter (1), Silver (10), and Gold (20).{{Cite web |title=His Majesty The King thanks Royal Navy submariners and families for their service during special visit |url=https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news/2024/september/19/20240919-the-king-makes-special-visit-to-submariners |access-date=2025-04-20 |website=www.royalnavy.mod.uk |language=en}}

File:RN submarines.png

The Submarine Service consists of two classes of Fleet submarines and one class of Ballistic Missile submarines.

File:Royal Navy Submarine HMS Astute Returns to HMNB Clyde MOD 45153733.jpg

There are six fleet submarines in commission – one {{sclass|Trafalgar|submarine|5}} and five {{sclass|Astute|submarine|5}}. They are all nuclear submarines and are classified as SSNs.{{cite web |url=http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/The-Fleet/Submarines |title=Submarines |work=Royal Navy |access-date=19 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111030022114/http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/The-Fleet/Submarines |archive-date=30 October 2011 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }}

These submarines are armed with the Spearfish torpedo for anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare. They have the ability to fire Tomahawk cruise missiles for attacking targets on land. This capability was used by {{HMS|Trafalgar|S107|2}} against the Taliban in 2001 during Operation Veritas. The Fleet submarines are also capable of surveillance and reconnaissance missions.{{cite web |url=http://www.royal-navy.mod.uk/server/show/nav.2441 |title=Fleet Submarines (SSN) : Submarine Service : Operations and Support |work=Royal Navy |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080906152507/http://www.royal-navy.mod.uk/server/show/nav.2441 |archive-date=6 September 2008}} Fleet submarines are sometimes referred to as attack or hunter-killer vessels.

{{main|Vanguard-class submarine}}

File:Vanguard at Faslane 03.jpg.]]

The four ballistic missile submarines (SSBN) of the Royal Navy are all of the {{sclass|Vanguard|submarine|4}}. They were all built by Vickers Shipbuilding and Engineering Ltd., now BAE Systems Submarine Solutions. The SSBN flotilla or bomber 'fleet' tends to be almost a separate entity; for example, it rarely uses pennant numbers preferring to use hull numbers, thus Vanguard 05, Victorious 06, Vigilant 07 and Vengeance 08.

The four Vanguard class boats are responsible for the United Kingdom's nuclear deterrent, and use the Trident missile system. Each boat can carry up to 16 Trident II D5 Missiles, each of which may carry up to 12 nuclear warheads. As of 2022 it is UK Government policy to refrain from declaring current stockpiles, deployed warheads and deployed missile numbers.{{Cite web| title=Nuclear weapons at a glance: United Kingdom | author=Claire Mills | url=https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/CBP-9077/CBP-9077.pdf | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210313202401/https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/CBP-9077/CBP-9077.pdf | archive-date=2021-03-13}}

There has been at least one SSBN on patrol at all times since April 1969.{{cite web |url=http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-latest-activity/operations/global/continuous-at-sea-deterrent |title=Continuous At Sea Deterrent |work=Royal Navy |access-date=16 June 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140602200258/http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-latest-activity/operations/global/continuous-at-sea-deterrent |archive-date=2 June 2014 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all}}

The Royal Navy operated the LR5 Submarine Rescue System, designed for retrieving sailors from stranded submarines. Capable of rescuing up to 16 sailors at a time, the system was deployed to the wreck site of the sunken {{ship|Russian submarine|Kursk|K-141|2|up=yes}}. The system was replaced in 2004 with the NATO Submarine Rescue System which remains based in the UK.

The Royal Navy, along with France and Norway, is part of the NATO Submarine Rescue System.

{{Update section|date=May 2021}}

Twenty-one nuclear submarines awaiting decommissioning have been laid-up at Rosyth and Devonport. In 2014 the MOD announced a plan to decommission 7 of the submarines awaiting disposal, in a project expected to take 12 years. A site for the intermediate-level nuclear waste produced was expected to be identified by 2016.{{cite news |url=http://www.neimagazine.com/features/featurehow-babcock-plans-to-decommission-uk-nuclear-submarines-4177541/ |title=How Babcock plans to decommission UK nuclear submarines |work=Nuclear Engineering International |date=14 February 2014 |access-date=19 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140224112046/http://www.neimagazine.com/features/featurehow-babcock-plans-to-decommission-uk-nuclear-submarines-4177541/ |archive-date=24 February 2014 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }} A trial dismantling of a nuclear submarine was planned to start in January 2016 at Rosyth.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-devon-32086030 |title=Laid-up nuclear submarines at Rosyth and Devonport cost £16m |first=Jonathan |last=Morris |work=BBC News |date=3 June 2015 |access-date=5 June 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150603123519/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-devon-32086030 |archive-date=3 June 2015 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }}

In 2018, the UK Parliament's Public Accounts Committee criticised the slow rate of decommissioning of these submarines, with the Ministry of Defence admitting that it had put off decommissioning due to the cost.{{Cite web|url=https://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/public-accounts-committee/news-parliament-2017/mod-nuclear-budget-report-published-17-19/|title=Multiple risks to delivery of nuclear deterrent – News from Parliament|website=UK Parliament|language=en|access-date=2019-05-18}} The National Audit Office in 2019 stated that the accumulative costs of laid up storage had reached £500 million,{{Cite web|url=https://www.janes.com/article/87657/nao-hits-out-at-uk-mod-over-nuclear-submarine-disposal|title=NAO hits out at UK MoD over nuclear submarine disposal {{!}} Jane's 360|website=www.janes.com|access-date=2019-05-18}} and they represent a liability of £7.5 billion.{{cite news |url=https://www.neimagazine.com/opinion/opinionstrategy-for-submarines-7339498/ |title=Strategy for submarines |last=Higginson |first=Nick |publisher=Nuclear Engineering International |date=30 July 2019 |access-date=6 December 2019 |archive-date=6 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191206163204/https://www.neimagazine.com/opinion/opinionstrategy-for-submarines-7339498/ |url-status=dead }}

in 2019 it has been acknowledged that the UK has more obsolete submarines than they have in service, a problem that has been ignored for over 50 years as the UK do not currently have a clear funding plan for defuelling and dismantling of these submarines.{{Cite web |last=Pollard |first=Luke |date=24 June 2019 |title=Let's begin the process of recycling our nuclear submarines |url=https://www.politicshome.com/news/uk/environment/house/house-magazine/104741/luke-pollard-lets-begin-process-recycling-our |access-date=2019-12-10 |website=PoliticsHome.com |publisher=Merit Group |language=en}} The US have been decommissioning nuclear submarines for many years in a programme that is self funding by recycling many of the components. It's possible that their expertise in decommissioning could be leverage in securing submarine building contracts from the UK.

{{Further|Future of the Royal Navy}}

A total force of seven {{sclass|Astute|submarine|5}} fleet submarines is planned. As of October 2024, the first six boats have been completed, five of which are in commission and in service. Boat six has commenced its testing and commissioning process and boat seven is at an advanced stage of construction. Boat number seven was confirmed in the October 2010 Strategic Defence and Security Review and long-lead items have been ordered.{{cite web |url=https://www.babcockinternational.com/en/News/Babcock%20contracted%20to%20provide%20Astute%206%20and%207%20weapons%20handling |title=Babcock contracted to provide Astute 6 & 7 weapons handling and launch system |work=Babcock International Group plc |date=1 February 2013 |access-date=14 April 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170415012048/https://www.babcockinternational.com/en/News/Babcock%20contracted%20to%20provide%20Astute%206%20and%207%20weapons%20handling |archive-date=15 April 2017 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }} The Astute-class submarine is the largest nuclear fleet submarine ever to serve with the Royal Navy, being nearly 30% larger than its predecessors. Its powerplant is the Rolls-Royce PWR2 reactor, developed for the Vanguard-class SSBN. The submarine's armament consists of up to 38 Spearfish torpedoes and Tomahawk Block IV land-attack cruise missiles.

The replacement class for the {{sclass|Vanguard|submarine|5}} SSBNs was ordered in 2016 and is named the {{sclass|Dreadnought|submarine|5}} after its lead boat.{{cite press release |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-successor-submarines-named |title=New Successor Submarines Named |work=UK Government |date=21 October 2016 |access-date=21 October 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161022023028/https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-successor-submarines-named |archive-date=22 October 2016 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }}{{cite news |title=New nuclear submarine given famous naval name |work=BBC News |date=21 October 2016 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-37720580 |access-date=21 October 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161021044237/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-37720580 |archive-date=21 October 2016 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }} The programme will seek to replace one-for-one the current four ballistic missile submarines starting sometime during the early 2030s.{{cite web |url=https://www.theyworkforyou.com/wrans/?id=2020-01-30.10350.h&s=c |title=HMS Audacious |first=James |last=Heappey |authorlink=James Heappey |date=6 February 2020 |website=theyworkforyou.com}}

There is also a program for a Maritime Underwater Future Capability (MUFC), that is, a successor to the Astute-class SSN.{{cite web |url=https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/701542/20180419-SDA_Corp_plan_final_portrait.pdf |title=Submarine Delivery Agency Corporate Plan 2018–2019 |author= |date=1 April 2018 |publisher=Submarine Delivery Agency |access-date=2 May 2019 }} MUFC was initially known as the 'Astute Replacement Nuclear Submarine (SSN (R))'.{{cite web |url=https://www.matchtech.com/job/EMP451390/sda-project-manager-barrowinfurness-england |title=SDA Project Manager |author= |date=18 February 2020 |website=matchtech.com |publisher=Matchtch |access-date=28 June 2020 }} However, in 2023 the program expanded to include the joint acquisition, with American support, of nuclear-powered submarines by the United Kingdom and Australia. The successor submarine was then renamed SSN-AUKUS.

{{Further|SSN-AUKUS}}

{{Portal|United Kingdom}}

• List of submarine classes of the Royal Navy
• List of submarines of the Royal Navy
• Royal Navy Submarine Museum

{{reflist|30em}}

• {{cite book |last=Chalmers |first=William |title=Max Horton and the Western Approaches: A biography of Admiral Sir Max Kennedy Horton |url=https://archive.org/details/maxhortonwestern0000chal|url-access=registration|location=London |publisher=Hodder & Stoughton |year=1954}}
• {{cite book |last=Conley |first=Dan |title=Cold War Command: The Dramatic Story of a Nuclear Submariner |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4uqwBAAAQBAJ&q=flag+officer+submarines+northwood+1978&pg=PA136 |location=South Yorkshire, England |publisher=Seaforth Publishing |year=2014 |isbn=978-1-84832-769-6}}
• {{cite book |last=Holland |first=James |title=Fortress Malta: An Island Under Siege, 1940–1943 |location=London |publisher=Miramax Books |year=2003 |isbn=1-4013-5186-7 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/fortressmaltaisl00holl }}
• {{cite book|last1=Lambert|first1=Nicholas A.|title=The Submarine Service, 1900–1918|date=2001|publisher=Ashgate|isbn=9780754602941}}
• {{cite book |last=Spooner |first=Tony |title=Supreme Gallantry: Malta's Role in the Allied Victory, 1939–1945 |year=1996 |location=London |publisher=J. Murray |isbn=978-0-71955-706-4}}

• {{cite book |last=Hackmann |first=Willem |title=Seek & Strike: Sonar, anti-submarine warfare and the Royal Navy 1914–54 |location=London |publisher=Her Majesty's Stationery Office |year=1984 |isbn=0-11-290423-8}}
• {{cite book | author1 = James Jinks | author2 = Peter Hennessy | date = 29 October 2015 | title = The Silent Deep: The Royal Navy Submarine Service Since 1945 | publisher= Penguin UK | isbn= 978-0-14-197370-8 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=miP3BgAAQBAJ}}

• {{Official website}}

{{Naval Service (British)|state=collapsed}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:1901 establishments in the United Kingdom

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Category:Submarine services