Trafalgar-class submarines to stay at Devonport

[Anth]

Trafalgar-class submarines will continue to be based at Devonport for the remainder of their operational lives as a result of a comprehensive and detailed study published by the Navy Board today, 24 March 06.

Trafalgar-class submarine HMS Torbay
[Picture: Royal Navy]

The conclusion of the study, under current assumptions, provides greater certainty for Royal Navy submariners and their families with respect to future submarine bases. This will give them more confidence to plan for the medium term.

As previously announced, the Astute Class submarines will join the Vanguard class in Faslane, Scotland, which will eventually become the sole UK operating base for submarines.

Minister for the Armed Forces Mr Adam Ingram said:

"This decision confirms our investment in the Faslane area to operate the new generation of nuclear submarines. This investment consists of new berthing arrangements, training facilities and significant upgrades to the base facilities all worth hundreds of millions of pounds to the local area.

"Whilst support arrangements have yet to be fully developed, the Astute class will require highly skilled personnel, both military and civilian, to maintain these impressive submarines for at least the next 25 years."

Many factors were considered in the study by the Navy Board. But the most important were the implications for people. It was quite clear that the greater stability provided, in the long term, by operating all our submarines from the Clyde significantly outweighs the advantages of individual choice provided by retaining two operating bases.

The decision is in line with the Navy Board’s aim to establish typed naval bases, which has already resulted in base-port changes for mine countermeasures vessels at Portsmouth and Faslane. To maintain optimum availability and provide a balanced industrial workload, Trafalgar-class submarines may occasionally be required to undergo maintenance periods in Faslane. Efforts will be made in such cases to ensure the crews will not spend longer apart from their families than is normal under current guidelines.

Under current plans, the Royal Naval Submarine School will continue to be located at HMS Raleigh, Cornwall, while training specific to the Astute class will take place in Faslane. The Submarine Escape Tank Trainer will remain at Gosport, Portsmouth. Devonport will remain the sole centre for refit work on the Royal Navy’s Vanguard, Trafalgar and Swiftsure class submarines until they are taken out of service. Maintenance of the Vanguard class submarines while in commission will be a Faslane responsibility. It would seem likely that in addition to the refits, some Astute class submarine maintenance will be done at Devonport when Faslane workload peaks.

Under current plans the following Devonport-based submarines will be taken out of service from the Royal Navy on the following dates:

• HMS Trafalgar - 2008
• HMS Turbulent - 2011
• HMS Tireless - 2013
• HMS Torbay - 2015
• HMS Trenchant - 2017
• HMS Talent - 2019
• HMS Triumph - 2022

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