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HMS Trenchant (S91)
Encyclopedia
HMS Trenchant is a nuclear-powered
Nuclear marine propulsion
Nuclear marine propulsion is propulsion of a ship by a nuclear reactor. Naval nuclear propulsion is propulsion that specifically refers to naval warships...
fleet submarine 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...
built by Vickers Shipbuilding, 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...
. Trenchant is currently in service and is based at HMNB Devonport
HMNB Devonport
Her Majesty's Naval Base Devonport , is one of three operating bases in the United Kingdom for the Royal Navy . HMNB Devonport is located in Devonport, in the west of the city of Plymouth in Devon, England...
.
The submarine was ordered on 22 March 1983. She was laid down by Vickers Shipbuilding on 28 October 1985, was launched on 3 November 1986, and was commissioned into the Royal Navy on 14 January 1989.
Trenchant is the third vessel and the second submarine of the Royal Navy to be named for the characteristic of vigour and incisiveness. The first was the World War II T-class
British T class submarine
The Royal Navy's T class of diesel-electric submarines was designed in the 1930s to replace the O, P and R classes. Fifty-three members of the class were built just before and during the Second World War, where they played a major role in the Royal Navy's submarine operations...
submarine Trenchant
HMS Trenchant (P331)
HMS Trenchant was a British T class submarine of the Second World War.On completion she was given over to the crew of HMS Thrasher whose submarine was due for a refit.-Service:...
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1990-1999
On 22 November 1990, the nets of the fishing vessel Antares were snagged by Trenchant. Antares was pulled under with the loss of all four members of the crew.In July 1997, the submarine ran aground off the western coast of Australia. While approaching Fremantle, Western Australia
Fremantle, Western Australia
Fremantle is a city in Western Australia, located at the mouth of the Swan River. Fremantle Harbour serves as the port of Perth, the state capital. Fremantle was the first area settled by the Swan River colonists in 1829...
, the submarine remained at a depth of 200 metres (656.2 ft) and grounded when she made contact with the continental shelf, coming to rest on a sloping patch of seafloor. Trenchant was able to free herself, and an inspection by divers reported no significant damage.
Trenchant tested the non-hull-penetrating optronic mast in 1998. She also trialled a camouflage paint scheme comprising jagged shapes of various colours, including pale blue.
2000-present day
On 21 June 2007, the submarine became the first Royal Navy vessel to fire the new Block IV Tomahawk cruise missile in a live firing trial in the Gulf of MexicoGulf of Mexico
The Gulf of Mexico is a partially landlocked ocean basin largely surrounded by the North American continent and the island of Cuba. It is bounded on the northeast, north and northwest by the Gulf Coast of the United States, on the southwest and south by Mexico, and on the southeast by Cuba. In...
off the United States coast.
In late 2009, Trenchant entered the Devonport submarine refit complex to undertake a 2 year refit and upgrade programme. Upon completion of the programme, the submarine underwent a rededication service on 6 June 2011 to welcome the boat back to active service.
Affliations
Trenchant is affiliated with the following military and civilian organisations, bodies & individuals:- Sea CadetSea Cadet Corps (United Kingdom)The Sea Cadet Corps is a UK national youth organisation sponsored by the Royal Navy and open to young people between the ages of 10-18 years old. The SCC is the UK's largest Naval Cadet Force with over 30,000 cadets and adult volunteers...
unit TS St David’s - Sea CadetSea Cadet Corps (United Kingdom)The Sea Cadet Corps is a UK national youth organisation sponsored by the Royal Navy and open to young people between the ages of 10-18 years old. The SCC is the UK's largest Naval Cadet Force with over 30,000 cadets and adult volunteers...
unit TS Echo (Llanelli) - Town of LlanelliLlanelliLlanelli , the largest town in both the county of Carmarthenshire and the preserved county of Dyfed , Wales, sits on the Loughor estuary on the West Wales coast, approximately west-north-west of Swansea and south-east of the county town, Carmarthen. The town is famous for its proud rugby...
- Lady Meriel Hunt (sponsor)