Themes

Conflict and Change

• Introduction

  • Timeline

  • Timeline: World Wars

  • HMS Warspite

  • HMS Premier

  • HMS Sovereign

  • HMS Fearless

• In Focus: 1900

• In Focus: World War One

• In Focus: Interwar

• In Focus: World War Two

• In Focus: Post War Conflict

• In Focus: Cold War Climate

• In Focus: Falklands and Beyond

• Special Exhibition: Falklands 25

Learning

• How To: Understand Propaganda

• Propaganda Image Galleries

• Education Project: Sea With Your Own Eyes

HMS Sovereign

Article Highlights

• Introduction

• Swiftsure Class

• The Cold War

• Submarines in the Cold War

• Submarines in the Arctic

• Arctic naval strategy

Swiftsure Class

3 crew members of HMS Sovereign at North Pole (RNSM)

HMS Sovereign was one of six Swiftsure Class submarines designed to perform an ASW role. The boats located and, if necessary, would destroy enemy submarines and warships. Sovereign did not carry any nuclear missiles, but carried Tigerfish and Spearfish torpedoes, as well as Harpoon missiles.

The Swiftsure design originally developed from the previous Valiant and Churchill Class attack submarines. Although they had a parallel sided hull as opposed to the 'humpback whale' design of the earlier SSNs as the Admiralty wanted to change the shape and provide more internal space. The design also fitted an improved weapon loading system, with torpedo tubes reloaded in 15 seconds.

Related External Links

• Royal Navy Submarine Museum