Cold War veterans gathered at Rosyth for a final look at HMS Swiftsure, the first of the Royal Navy’s retired nuclear-powered submarines set to be dismantled, according to a Royal Navy press release.
More than 40 former crew members of the hunter-killer submarine, decommissioned in 1992, were invited to revisit their old vessel before it undergoes the complex process of being broken up.
HMS Swiftsure, once a vital part of the Silent Service, had been docked at Rosyth since July 2023, awaiting dismantling as part of the Ministry of Defence’s Submarine Dismantling Project.
Despite the passage of time, the submarine still contained remnants of her operational days, including bunk plans and other mementos from her time in service, which moved many of the veterans. Some described the submarine as “a time capsule,” with memories of their time aboard coming back vividly.
Chris Carpenter, Head of Submarine Disposal and Devonport Infrastructure, expressed his gratitude to the veterans for their service and for attending the event. “Let me say how grateful I and my colleagues are for your service in keeping us safe,” he said. He also acknowledged the emotional nature of the visit, recalling the veterans’ pride in their service during operations, including Cold War surveillance and the famous Kiev recordings, which captured the sound signature of a Soviet flagship.
The dismantling of HMS Swiftsure will serve as a blueprint for the recycling of more than 20 decommissioned nuclear submarines. The project, which aims to recycle over 90% of the materials, is expected to be completed by 2026. Some of the metal from the submarine will be repurposed for next-generation vessels, including the Dreadnought class and future AUKUS submarines.
Rear Admiral JJ Bailey, Director of Submarine Support, noted that the lessons learned from HMS Swiftsure’s dismantling will ensure future boats are recycled safely, efficiently, and with cost savings applied where possible.
