BAE Systems Submarines
Encyclopedia
BAE Systems Submarine Solutions is a wholly owned subsidiary
of BAE Systems
, based in Barrow-in-Furness
, Cumbria
, and is responsible for the development and production of submarine
s.
It operates one of the few shipyard
s in the world capable of building nuclear submarines, which has constructed all but three of the Royal Navy
's nuclear-powered submarines since the commissioning of HMS Dreadnought
in 1963. The exceptions were HMS Conqueror
, HMS Renown
and HMS Revenge
, which were built by Cammell Laird
. The Barrow-in-Furness shipyard has also been building submarines since the Abdül Hamid
was launched for the Ottoman Navy
in 1886 and the for the Royal Navy was launched in 1901.
The shipyard was formerly operated by Vickers Shipbuilding and Engineering (VSEL). Upon the creation of BAE Systems in 1999, the submarine division became part of BAE Systems Marine
.
As part of BAE Systems Marine, the yard constructed surface ship
s, such as the s. In 2003 however the company was split into BAE Systems Submarines and BAE Systems Naval Ships
.
Since its completion in 1986, submarines at Barrow are constructed inside the Devonshire Dock Hall
.
The company is currently constructing the , a new generation nuclear attack submarine (SSN) for the Royal Navy
, the first of which was launched on 8 June 2007. The order for the initial batch of three ships was placed in 1997, with Marconi Marine (VSEL), which was absorbed into BAE Systems in 1999. BAE Systems Submarine Solutions is also currently studying the design of a new class
of ballistic missile submarines.
Subsidiary
A subsidiary company, subsidiary, or daughter company is a company that is completely or partly owned and wholly controlled by another company that owns more than half of the subsidiary's stock. The subsidiary can be a company, corporation, or limited liability company. In some cases it is a...
of BAE Systems
BAE Systems
BAE Systems plc is a British multinational defence, security and aerospace company headquartered in London, United Kingdom, that has global interests, particularly in North America through its subsidiary BAE Systems Inc. BAE is among the world's largest military contractors; in 2009 it was the...
, based in Barrow-in-Furness
Barrow-in-Furness
Barrow-in-Furness is an industrial town and seaport which forms about half the territory of the wider Borough of Barrow-in-Furness in the county of Cumbria, England. It lies north of Liverpool, northwest of Manchester and southwest from the county town of Carlisle...
, Cumbria
Cumbria
Cumbria , is a non-metropolitan county in North West England. The county and Cumbria County Council, its local authority, came into existence in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972. Cumbria's largest settlement and county town is Carlisle. It consists of six districts, and in...
, and is responsible for the development and production of submarine
Submarine
A submarine is a watercraft capable of independent operation below the surface of the water. It differs from a submersible, which has more limited underwater capability...
s.
It operates one of the few shipyard
Shipyard
Shipyards and dockyards are places which repair and build ships. These can be yachts, military vessels, cruise liners or other cargo or passenger ships. Dockyards are sometimes more associated with maintenance and basing activities than shipyards, which are sometimes associated more with initial...
s in the world capable of building nuclear submarines, which has constructed all but three of the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
's nuclear-powered submarines since the commissioning of HMS Dreadnought
HMS Dreadnought (S101)
The seventh HMS Dreadnought was the United Kingdom's first nuclear-powered submarine, built by Vickers Armstrongs at Barrow-in-Furness. Launched by Queen Elizabeth II on Trafalgar Day 1960 and commissioned into service with the Royal Navy in April 1963, she continued in service until 1980...
in 1963. The exceptions were HMS Conqueror
HMS Conqueror (S48)
HMS Conqueror was a nuclear-powered fleet submarine that served in the Royal Navy from 1971 to 1990. She was built by Cammell Laird in Birkenhead...
, HMS Renown
HMS Renown (S26)
HMS Renown was the third of the Royal Navy's Resolution-class ballistic missile submarines.Built by Cammell Laird and launched on 25 February 1967, she was decommissioned in 1996.- External links :*...
and HMS Revenge
HMS Revenge (S27)
HMS Revenge was the fourth of the Royal Navy's Resolution-class ballistic missile submarines.Built by Cammell Laird and launched on 15 March 1968, she was marked for disposal in 1992...
, which were built by Cammell Laird
Cammell Laird
Cammell Laird, one of the most famous names in British shipbuilding during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, came about following the merger of Laird, Son & Co. of Birkenhead and Johnson Cammell & Co. of Sheffield at the turn of the twentieth century.- Founding of the business :The Company...
. The Barrow-in-Furness shipyard has also been building submarines since the Abdül Hamid
Ottoman submarine Abdül Hamid
Submarine Abdül Hamid was the first submarine built in the United Kingdom, being constructed in 1886 at the Barrow Shipyard. It was bought and put in service by the Ottoman Navy and named after Sultan Abdülhamid II...
was launched for the Ottoman Navy
Ottoman Navy
The Ottoman Navy was established in the early 14th century. During its long existence it was involved in many conflicts; refer to list of Ottoman sieges and landings and list of Admirals in the Ottoman Empire for a brief chronology.- Pre-Ottoman:...
in 1886 and the for the Royal Navy was launched in 1901.
The shipyard was formerly operated by Vickers Shipbuilding and Engineering (VSEL). Upon the creation of BAE Systems in 1999, the submarine division became part of BAE Systems Marine
BAE Systems Marine
BAE Systems Marine Ltd. was the shipbuilding subsidiary of BAE Systems, formed in 1999, which manufactured the full range of naval ships; nuclear submarines, frigates, destroyers, amphibious ships....
.
As part of BAE Systems Marine, the yard constructed surface ship
Surface ship
A surface ship is any type of naval ship that is confined to the surface of the sea. The term is primarily used to mean any modern vessel type that is not a submarine; although a "surface ship" may range in size from a cutter to an aircraft carrier, the weapons and tactics have some commonality,...
s, such as the s. In 2003 however the company was split into BAE Systems Submarines and BAE Systems Naval Ships
BAE Systems Naval Ships
BAE Systems Surface Fleet Solutions was a wholly owned subsidiary of BAE Systems, based at two shipyards on the River Clyde in Glasgow and BAE Systems' Filton offices...
.
Since its completion in 1986, submarines at Barrow are constructed inside the Devonshire Dock Hall
Devonshire Dock Hall
Devonshire Dock Hall is a large shipbuilding hall that forms part of the BAE Systems Submarine Solutions shipyard in the Barrow Island area of Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, England....
.
The company is currently constructing the , a new generation nuclear attack submarine (SSN) for the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
, the first of which was launched on 8 June 2007. The order for the initial batch of three ships was placed in 1997, with Marconi Marine (VSEL), which was absorbed into BAE Systems in 1999. BAE Systems Submarine Solutions is also currently studying the design of a new class
British replacement of the Trident system
The British replacement of Trident is a proposal to replace the existing Vanguard class of four Trident ballistic-missile armed submarines with a new class designed to continue a nuclear deterrent after the current boats reach the end of their service lives...
of ballistic missile submarines.
See also
- Barrow-in-FurnessBarrow-in-FurnessBarrow-in-Furness is an industrial town and seaport which forms about half the territory of the wider Borough of Barrow-in-Furness in the county of Cumbria, England. It lies north of Liverpool, northwest of Manchester and southwest from the county town of Carlisle...
- Port of BarrowPort of BarrowThe Port of Barrow refers to the enclosed dock system within the town of Barrow-in-Furness, England. Morecambe Bay is to the east of the port and the Irish Sea surrounds it to the south and west...
- List of ships and submarines built in Barrow-in-Furness