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HMS Talent: Trafalgar Class
HMS Talent in construction.
Former WO1(GSM) Peter Padley MBE
Three submarines named HMS Talent have served with the Royal Navy. The first Talent was launched in July 1943 but in November 1943 was transferred to the Royal Netherlands Navy and commissioned as the Zwaardvisch (Swordfish).
The second submarine named Talent, originally named HMS Tasman, was launched in July 1945. HMS Talent escaped service during WWII but experienced two accidents in close succession in the mid 1950’s. Swept out of dry dock at Chatham Dockyard when the dock gate lifted, thick fog and adverse weather conditions hampered the search for her. Four members of the crew had been lost before being found the following day. On completion of repairs she was accepted back into service but in May 1956 she was damaged in an underwater collision near the Isle of Wight. HMS Talent was scrapped in February 1970.
The current HMS Talent was launched by the Princess Royal in April 1988 and commissioned in May 1990. She is the penultimate submarine of the Trafalgar Class submarines in service with the Royal Navy.
In March 2007 HMS Talent rejoined the fleet after refit where a new reactor core was fitted as well as being equipped with the new 2076 sonar which is capable of accurately tracking small objects from many hundreds of miles away and is reputed to be the most advanced sonar in service worldwide.
The Royal Navy has the following Trafalgar Class SSN’s serving within the fleet:
HMS Turbulent – Trafalgar Class
HMS Trenchant – Trafalgar Class
HMS Tireless: Trafalgar Class
HMS Triumph: Trafalgar Class
HMS Torbay: Trafalgar Class
Previous Section: The Current Ships of the Royal Navy
HM Submarines
Vanguard Class SSBN
Trafalgar Class SSN
Astute Class SSN
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