Resolution-class

Summary

Description

The Resolution class was a group of four nuclear ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs) constructed for the Royal Navy, constituting the UK's naval component of the nuclear deterrent during the late 1960s until 1996. These submarines, equipped with up to 16 UGM-27 Polaris A-3 nuclear missiles each, were named Resolution, Repulse, Renown, and Revenge. Built between 1964 and 1968 by Vickers Armstrong and Cammell Laird, they operated from HM Naval Base Clyde in Scotland.

The inception of the Resolution-class submarines stemmed from the diminishing credibility of the Royal Air Force's V-bombers as a nuclear deterrent due to advancements in radar and air defenses making them vulnerable. Initially negotiating for the AGM-48 Skybolt missile from the United States, the UK had to reconsider after the cancellation of Skybolt. Eventually, an agreement was reached for the United Kingdom to acquire the more advanced Polaris system. Designated as the naval successor to the RAF's V-bombers, the construction of a new submarine class for the Polaris missiles was imperative.

The submarines were ordered in pairs in May 1963, with traditional battleship names indicating their capital ship status. The design extended from the Valiant-class fleet submarine to include a missile compartment with a significantly larger size to accommodate the armament. While not divulging the physical dimensions, it's notable that the propulsion system comprised a Rolls-Royce pressurized water reactor and turbines providing a top speed of 25 knots. Besides the missile armament, the submarines were also outfitted with 533-millimeter torpedo tubes and capable of carrying the Tigerfish wire-guided torpedoes. Notably, the United States Navy envied several features of these submarines, including the machinery loading hatch and automated hovering system.

Resolution, the first of its class, was laid down in February 1964 and launched in 1966, with its maiden operational patrol beginning in June 1968. All four submarines underwent upgrades in the 1980s for the Polaris A3TK missile integrated with the Chevaline MRV system, enhancing their capabilities. However, with the advent of the Vanguard-class submarines, the Resolution-class was eventually decommissioned. All four submarines now await disposal through the Ministry of Defense's Submarine Dismantling Project.

Technical specifications

Silhouette