HMS Valiant (S102)

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Career (UK)
Ordered:	31 August 1960
Laid down:	22 January 1962
Launched:	3 December 1963
Commissioned:	18 July 1966
General characteristics
Displacement:	4,300 tonnes surfaced, 4,800tonnessubmerged
Length:	86.9 m
Beam:	10.1 m
Propulsion:	Single pressurised water reactor
Speed:	20 knots surfaced, 28knotssubmerged
Complement:	116
Armament:	Six 21" bow torpoedo tubes

The sixth, and most recent HMS Valiant was the second of Britain's nuclear-powered submarines, and the first of the two Valiant class. She was ordered on 31 August 1960, laid down 22 January 1962, launched on 3 December 1963 by Lady Thorneycroft, and finally entered service 18 July 1966.

She was refitted in 1970, 1977 and 1989, and participated in the Falklands War in 1982. Following the development of engine trouble in June 1994, she was paid off 12 August 1994.

Her hull and reactor are currently laid up afloat at Devonport Dockyard, Plymouth, Devon until facilities are available for the long term storage of her radioactive components.

During the HMNB Devonport Navy Days 2006, one of the members of the team currently restoring HMS Courageous[ pointed out that HMS Valiant was one of the first Royal Navy submarines to have her reactor removed (hence the box-like structures that are visible in the photograph below, which penetrate deep into the pressure hull, later attempts on other vessels didn't require these structures). As the Valiant had been cosmetically wrecked by this work, HMS Courageous was selected for the museum ship to represent the SSN fleet of the Royal Navy during the Cold War. Components were removed from HMS Valiant to restore Courageous. The fate of HMS Valiant now remains bleak.^{[citation needed]}

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