Swiftsure

British submarine class

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July 20, 2026

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The Swiftsure class was a group of six British nuclear-powered attack submarines commissioned between 1974 and 1981. These submarines displaced between 4,000 and 4,500 tons and were approximately 87 meters (285 feet) long. Initially, their armament consisted of torpedoes and Harpoon missiles, designed for hunting enemy submarines and surface ships. In the 1990s, some Swiftsure-class submarines were upgraded to carry Tomahawk cruise missiles, enabling them to strike land targets as well. The Royal Navy has since decommissioned these vessels as newer classes, such as the Astute class, have entered service.12

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submarine
Attack submarines
The British Swiftsure class (six vessels, commissioned 1974–81) and Trafalgar class (six vessels, commissioned 1983–91) displaced between 4,000 and 4,500 tons at the surface and were about 87 metres (285 feet) long. They were originally armed only with torpedoes and dive-launched Harpoon missiles, consistent with their Cold…
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The British Swiftsure class (six vessels, commissioned 1974–81) and Trafalgar class (six vessels, commissioned 1983–91) displaced between 4,000 and 4,500 tons at the surface and were about 87 metres (285 feet) long. They were originally armed only with torpedoes and dive-launched Harpoon missiles, consistent with their Cold…
Read More