HMS Warspite (S103)

HMS Warspite
History
United Kingdom
Name	HMS Warspite
Ordered	12 December 1962
Builder	Vickers-Armstrongs
Laid down	10 December 1963
Launched	25 September 1965
Commissioned	18 April 1967
Decommissioned	1991
Honours and awards	25 inherited honours
Fate	In storage, awaiting disposal
Badge
General characteristics
Class and type	Valiant-class submarine
Displacement	4,200 long tons (4,300 t) surfaced 4,900 long tons (5,000 t) submerged
Length	285 ft (87 m)
Beam	33 ft 3 in (10.13 m)
Draught	27 ft (8.2 m)
Propulsion	1 × Rolls-Royce pressurised water reactor 2 × English Electric steam turbines, 15,000 hp (11 MW) 1 × Paxman diesel-electric generator 1 shaft
Speed	20 knots (23 mph; 37 km/h) surfaced 28 knots (32 mph; 52 km/h) submerged
Range	Unlimited, except by food supplies
Complement	116
Armament	6 × 21 inch (533 mm) bow torpedo tubes 24 torpedoes Later equipped with: RNSH UGM-84 Harpoon (RN version of underwater launched cruise missile) Tigerfish torpedoes Main Sonar system 2001

The latest HMS Warspite was the third of Britain's nuclear-powered submarines, and the second (and final) of the Valiant class. After entering service in 1967 she collided with a Soviet submarine the following year. A mechanical failure associated with the submarine's nuclear reactor in 1991 led to the boat being laid up at HMNB Devonport where she awaits disposal.