End of an era - Fairwell Trafalgar Class
Discussion
Last of the T boats - Triumph - started her final journey down to Devonport today to start her decommissioning. End of an era, being the last class of traditionally built SSNs, before going to bigger modular designs.
They were strong old beasts as they had a few close shaves over the years but always made it home.
https://www.navylookout.com/royal-navys-last-trafa...
They were strong old beasts as they had a few close shaves over the years but always made it home.
https://www.navylookout.com/royal-navys-last-trafa...
Morning folks.
Wow this takes me back. I served my apprenticeship as a Sparky at VSEL (now BAE) Barrow from 1989 to 1993.
One of the biggest eye-openings I ever had, when, for the first time I entered the Devonshire Dock Hall and witnessed the size and scale of the Vanguard class (Trident) submarine.Triumph was nearing the end of construction in the same building and in comparison was tiny. Vanguard and Victorious were in the hall, and IIRC the keel of the the third Trident.
It was tiny internally also, compared. We were all rotated as apprentices between various ‘squads’ - (departments). When I was on the ‘Test Squad’ I had a weekly job of crawling down in Triumphs battery compartment and taking hydrometer readings of the banks of cells within. It was terribly cramped. Basically there was a little wheeled bogey which you laid on your back and dragged yourself between the banks. There was so little room between the tops of the cells and the deak-head.
Yeah, apprentices always got the best jobs!
I notice Triumph was launched in 1991, which I’m sure will have been the first Submarine to be lowered into the water from the DDH ship lift. As opposed to a dynamic launch off the slipway / births. I did attend one T class launch off the slipway before I started my apprenticeship, looking at launch dates it was probably Talent or Trenchant.
Nearing launch, VSEL employees were invited to make little purchases of memorabilia associated. I bought this Zippo lighter.
Wow this takes me back. I served my apprenticeship as a Sparky at VSEL (now BAE) Barrow from 1989 to 1993.
One of the biggest eye-openings I ever had, when, for the first time I entered the Devonshire Dock Hall and witnessed the size and scale of the Vanguard class (Trident) submarine.Triumph was nearing the end of construction in the same building and in comparison was tiny. Vanguard and Victorious were in the hall, and IIRC the keel of the the third Trident.
It was tiny internally also, compared. We were all rotated as apprentices between various ‘squads’ - (departments). When I was on the ‘Test Squad’ I had a weekly job of crawling down in Triumphs battery compartment and taking hydrometer readings of the banks of cells within. It was terribly cramped. Basically there was a little wheeled bogey which you laid on your back and dragged yourself between the banks. There was so little room between the tops of the cells and the deak-head.
Yeah, apprentices always got the best jobs!
I notice Triumph was launched in 1991, which I’m sure will have been the first Submarine to be lowered into the water from the DDH ship lift. As opposed to a dynamic launch off the slipway / births. I did attend one T class launch off the slipway before I started my apprenticeship, looking at launch dates it was probably Talent or Trenchant.
Nearing launch, VSEL employees were invited to make little purchases of memorabilia associated. I bought this Zippo lighter.
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