The Royal Navy plans to operate the four new Dreadnought-class submarines for at least 30 years.
The Royal Navy is getting closer to introducing a new type of nuclear submarine.
In March, the British military laid the keel of the HMS Dreadnought, which will carry nuclear weapons and contribute to the United Kingdom’s nuclear deterrence.
The HMS Dreadnought
By all accounts, the Dreadnought-class submarines will be impressive. With a displacement of more than 17,000 tonnes, a length of over 500 feet—roughly one-and-a-half football fields—and a crew of around 130, the Royal Navy’s new subs will be enormous. The class will also incorporate new technology, such as adaptive lighting that will simulate day and night conditions on board. The Royal Navy plans on buying four subs of the type.
With regard to weapons, the HMS Dreadnought and its sister ships are expected to be armed with four 533 mm heavy torpedo tubes and 12 ballistic missile launch tubes for the Lockheed Trident II D5 Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missile. Crucially, these missiles will be nuclear-capable.
“This keel laying ceremony is considered the ‘birth’ of a vessel, and I congratulate all those involved across the Alliance for reaching this important milestone in the life of HMS Dreadnought and look forward to bringing this exciting and highly capable submarine into service,” First Sea Lord Admiral Sir Ben Key said during the ceremony.
The new class of nuclear-powered submarines will replace the existing Vanguard class.
“Whilst the Vanguard Class of submarines continues to deliver our Continuous At-Sea Deterrent today, the Royal Navy is greatly looking forward to operating highly sophisticated and advanced Dreadnought Class submarines,” Key added.
Following the HMS Dreadnought, the Royal Navy is also slated to welcome the HMS Valiant, HMS Warspite, and HMS King George VI. The Royal Navy will continue to operate its existing nuclear Astute-class subs.
The class takes its name from the HMS Dreadnought, the Royal Navy’s first nuclear-powered submarine that served from 1960 to 1980. Overall, the Royal Navy has a long history of using the name Dreadnought for its warships. The first vessels with that name came into action over 300 years ago, and the pioneering Dreadnought-class battleship, first constructed in 1906, revolutionized the battleship and began a naval arms race between Britain and Germany in the years leading to World War I.
The Dreadnought Is a Force Multiplier
Submarines can be force multipliers in a near-peer conflict. They not only have the ability to sink enemy warships, support vessels, and commercial ships, but can also force an adversary to dedicate large amounts of air and naval resources in dealing with their threat.
The U.S. Navy might have the largest submarine fleet in the world with over 70 vessels. Allied subs would offer a significant boost in combat power in the event of a conflict with a near-peer adversary like China—which is rapidly scaling up its own submarine force—or Russia.
The Royal Navy plans to operate the four new submarines for at least 30 years. Their mission as the maritime arm of the UK’s nuclear deterrence will be one of the most important. In the event of a nuclear conflict, it will be up to these submarines to respond.
About the Author: Stavros Atlamazoglou
Stavros Atlamazoglou is a seasoned defense journalist specializing in special operations and a Hellenic Army veteran (national service with the 575th Marine Battalion and Army HQ). He holds a BA from the Johns Hopkins University and an MA from the Johns Hopkins’ School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). His work has been featured in Business Insider, Sandboxx, and SOFREP.
Image: Wikimedia Commons.
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