TRAFALGAR CLASS SUBMARINE

The '''Trafalgar'' class submarines' were, until the introduction of the ''Astute'' class, the Royal Navy's most advanced nuclear fleet submarines (SSNs).
Essentially a refinement of the ''Swiftsure'' class and designed six years later than its predecessor, the first ''Trafalgar'' class submarine was ordered on April 7, 1977 and completed in 1983. ''Turbulent'' was ordered on July 28, 1978; ''Tireless'' on July 5, 1979; ''Torbay'' on June 26, 1981; ''Trenchant'' on March 22, 1983; ''Talent'' on September 10, 1984; and finally ''Triumph'' on July 3, 1986.
The major improvements include a new reactor core and the Type 2020 sonar. Internal layout is almost identical to the ''Swiftsure'', and it is only 2.5 metres longer.
Rather than the seven/nine-bladed propeller used by the ''Swiftsures'', ''Trafalgar'' class submarines use pump-jet propulsion - a high-pitch, low-revolution propeller which is much quieter but much heavier than conventional propeller designs. Development of this system was not complete in time for installation in the class's name-ship vessel, HMS ''Trafalgar,'' and so the pump-jet was first used in the second in the class, HMS ''Turbulent.'' The hull is also covered in anechoic tiles which are designed to absorb sound rather than reflect it, making the boats more difficult to detect with active sonar.
The ''Trafalgar'' class have strengthened fins and retractable hydroplanes, allowing them to surface through thick ice.
In 1993 ''Triumph'' sailed to Australia, covering a distance of 41,000 miles whilst submerged and without any forward support. This marked the longest solo deployment by any nuclear submarine.
The ''Trafalgar'' class was to be replaced by the Future Attack Submarine (FASM), however this project was effectively cancelled in 2001 and replaced by the Maritime Underwater Future Capability. It seems likely that the ''Astute'' class will replace the ''Trafalgar'' class as well as the ''Swiftsure'' class.

Contents

Service Problems

General characteristics

Units

External links

Service Problems

Despite being regarded as sophisticated designs, the ''Trafalgar'' class have suffered from a number of technical difficulties. In 1998 ''Trenchant'' experienced a steam leak, forcing the crew to shut down the nuclear reactor. In 2000 cracks were discovered in the reactor cooling pipes of ''Tireless'', forcing her to proceed to Gibraltar on diesel power. In August 2000 it was revealed that with ''Tireless'' still at Gibraltar, ''Torbay'', ''Turbulent'', ''Trenchant'' and ''Talent'' were at Devonport for refit or repair and with ''Trafalgar'' undergoing sea trials, only one boat - ''Triumph'' - was fully operational. By 2005 refits had reportedly corrected these problems.
In 2007, a small explosion aboard HMS ''Tireless'' resulted in the death of two sailors and injury of another. The accident took place while the submarine was submerged under the Arctic icecap during a joint British-American exercise. An Oxygen Candle in the forward section of the submarine was thought to be responsible for the accident [1].

General characteristics

★ Builder: Vickers Shipbuilding and Engineering Ltd

★ Displacement: 4,750 tons surfaced, 5,208 tons submerged

★ Length: 85.4 meters

★ Beam: 9.8 meters

★ Draught: 9.5 meters

★ Complement: 18 officers, 112 ratings

★ Propulsion: 1 x Rolls-Royce PWR1 pressurized water cooled nuclear reactor delivering 15,000 shp for 30 kt max

★ Armament: five tubes capable of firing:

★
★ Spearfish torpedoes

★
★ Tomahawk missiles
Tigerfish and Harpoons are no longer used by any submarine class within the Royal Navy.

★ Sensors:

★
★ sonar (bow, flank, active intercept, and towed arrays)

★
★ periscopes (attack and search)

★
★ collision avoidance radar

★ Command System:

★
★ SMCS

★
★ SMCS-NG (based on Microsoft Windows) from 2004 onwards

Units

The ''Trafalgar'' class includes seven boats:

★ ''Trafalgar'' (S107)

★ ''Turbulent'' (S87)

★ ''Tireless'' (S88)

★ ''Torbay'' (S90)

★ ''Trenchant'' (S91)

★ ''Talent'' (S92)

★ ''Triumph'' (S93)
Additional Information:
The name of Trafalgar is derived from the original Arabic name رأس الطرف الأغر (Al-taraf al-agharr) meaning "Edge Of Cave", It refers to the battle which took place between the British Fleet and the combined fleets of France and Spain, known as the Battle of Trafalgar.

External links

★ Royal Navy official site

★ Report on 2003 upgrade of Torbay

★ Abridged history of each boat

★ MaritimeQuest Trafalgar Class Overview

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