Swiftsure class nuclear fleet submarine

The Royal Navy's Swiftsure-class of nuclear fleet submarines (SSN) is the older of the two classes of attack submarine in service with the RN.

Six boats were built and commissioned. HMS Swiftsure was decommissioned in 1992 due to damage suffered to her pressure hull during trials. HMS Splendid followed in 2004 after defence cuts caused a reduction in the size of the RN SSN fleet. HMS Spartan was decommissioned in January 2006, with HMS Sovereign following on 12 September 2006. The remaining two boats in the class are scheduled to be out of service by 2010, with HMS Superb going in 2008, followed by HMS Sceptre. They are being replaced by the Astute-class submarine.

A few can now fire Tomahawk missiles in addition to their original armaments of torpedoes, mines and anti-ship missiles.