Last Swiftsure-Class Submarine Decommissions In December

Royal Navy submariners will bid a fond farewell to HMS Sceptre when the Swiftsure-class submarine decommissions next month.

The curtain falls on Britain’s second generation of hunter-killer submarines on December 10 when HMS Sceptre – the oldest active nuclear boat in the world – bows out. The boat, the last of six Swiftsure-class Fleet submarines which have served the nation since 1973, decommissions in Devonport after 32 years under the White Ensign.

Veterans of the S-class are converging on the Hamoaze for the farewell, plus as many of Sceptre’s 16 COs who can make the ceremony, the Band of the Scots Guards, the submarine’s affiliated unit, and VIPs from the town which has supported the boat throughout her long life: Wigan. Sceptre last sailed in May, when she returned from an eight-month deployment. Since then she’s been kept in readiness in Devonport – where nuclear submarines are deactivated, rather than the S-boat’s long-standing home of Faslane.

Despite next month’s decommissioning, many of Sceptre’s crew will stay with her into the new year to help with stripping her out and to look after the boat’s reactor. Although it’s been ‘switched off’ since the boat returned from deployment, the reactor takes years to cool down (it’s a natural process – there’s no way of speeding it along). And even though it’s not active, the reactor has to be treated in the same way as if Sceptre were sailing the Seven Seas. It means the last ship’s company won’t leave the boat until some time in 2012.

By then, most of the deeps will have been either redeployed (a good number will join HMS Ambush, the latest Astute-class boat which is launched next month), or left the Senior Service. Among the latter is LS(CSSM) ‘Spud’ Murphy, who’s spent 15 years in S-boats (he’s also served in O, R and T-class submarines).

“It’s not just a boat. This is my last S-boat, in fact my last boat full stop,” he says,

“I get a lump in my throat seeing my old boats laid up here in the basin, so I will definitely have one when Sceptre goes as well.”

Sceptre’s final CO, Cdr Steve Waller, says despite her age, the boat has proved herself to the very end.

“Operationally we’re just as capable as any other boat in the Navy – on our final deployment we were available for sea on 275 days and we do the same job as an A or T boat,” he added.

It’s not the age of the hull or the equipment inside which has determined Sceptre’s fate, but her reactor life – and it provides the boat with all her power.

“There’s ultimate pride in being the last of the S-boats,” Cdr Waller added. “We’re conscious that we’re flying the flag as the last of class – a lot of my ship’s company were offered other boats but they wanted to be on the last S-boat.

“December 10 draws a line under the Swiftsure class. It’s not just the end of a boat, it’s the end of an era. It will be a sad day. Sceptre’s done wonders.”

By: Shelldrake