View source for HMS Valiant (S102)

{{short description|1966 Valiant-class nuclear-powered fleet submarine of the Royal Navy}}
{{other ships|HMS Valiant}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2017}}
{{Use British English|date=April 2017}}
{{Infobox ship
|section1={{Infobox ship/image
 | image = HMS Valiant S102 01.jpg
 | image_caption = ''Valiant'' in Florida in April 1994
 }}

|section2={{Infobox ship/career
 | hide_header = 
 | country = United Kingdom
 | flag = {{shipboxflag|United Kingdom|naval}}
 | name = ''Valiant''
 | namesake = 
 | owner = 
 | operator = 
 | registry = 
 | route = 
 | ordered = 31 August 1960
 | awarded = 
 | builder = [[Vickers-Armstrongs]]
 | laid_down = 22 January 1962
 | launched = 3 December 1963
 | acquired = 
 | commissioned = 18 July 1966
 | decommissioned = 12 August 1994
 | in_service = 
 | out_of_service = 
 | struck = 
 | homeport = 
 | identification = 
 | motto = 
 | nickname = 
 | honours = 
 | fate = 
 | status = Laid up
 | notes = 
 | badge = [[File:Valiant crest.jpg|100px]]
 }}

|section3={{Infobox ship/characteristics
 | hide_header = 
 | header_caption = 
 | class = {{sclass|Valiant|submarine}}
 | displacement = *{{convert|4200|LT|t|0|abbr=on}} surfaced
                  *{{convert|4900|LT|t|0|abbr=on}} submerged
 | length = {{convert|285|ft|m|abbr=on}}
 | beam = {{convert|33|ft|3|in|m|abbr=on}}
 | height = 
 | draught = {{convert|27|ft|m|abbr=on}}
 | depth = 
 | propulsion = *1 × [[Rolls-Royce PWR|Rolls-Royce pressurised water reactor]]
                *2 × [[English Electric]] steam turbines, {{convert|15000|hp|MW|abbr=on}}
                *2 ×  [[Paxman (engines)|Paxman]] diesel-electric generator
                *1 shaft
 | speed = *{{convert|20|kn|mph km/h|lk=in}} surfaced
           *{{convert|28|kn|mph km/h}} submerged
 | range = Unlimited, except by food supplies
 | endurance = 
 | test_depth = 
 | complement = 116
 | crew = 
 | time_to_activate = 
 | sensors = 
 | EW = 
 | armament = 6 × [[British 21 inch torpedo|21 inch (533 mm)]] bow [[torpedo tube]]s
 | armour = 
 | notes = 
 }}
}}
The sixth and most recent '''HMS ''Valiant''''' was the second of Britain's [[nuclear-powered]] [[submarines]], and the first of the two-unit {{sclass|Valiant|submarine|4}}.

==Construction==
She was ordered on 31 August 1960 and laid down 22 January 1962 at [[Vickers-Armstrongs]] in [[Barrow-in-Furness]].<ref name="JinksHennessy194">{{cite book | author1 = James Jinks | author2 = Peter Hennessy | date = 29 October 2015 | title = The Silent Deep: The Royal Navy Submarine Service Since 1945 | publisher= Penguin UK | pages=194 | isbn= 978-0-14-197370-8 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=miP3BgAAQBAJ}}</ref> The basic design concept was to use the forward design of ''[[HMS Dreadnought (S101)|Dreadnought]]'' together with an aft end consisting of all British nuclear machinery based on the [[Dounreay]] prototype.<ref name="JinksHennessy195">{{cite book | author1 = James Jinks | author2 = Peter Hennessy | date = 29 October 2015 | title = The Silent Deep: The Royal Navy Submarine Service Since 1945 | publisher= Penguin UK | pages=195 | isbn= 978-0-14-197370-8 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=miP3BgAAQBAJ}}</ref>

She was launched on 3 December 1963 by [[Lady Thorneycroft]], and finally entered service 18 July 1966.

==Operational history==

She was refitted in 1970, 1977 and 1989.{{citation needed|date=September 2018}}

In 1977 ''Valiant'' was trailing a Soviet submarine in the eastern Mediterranean when she suffered a salt water pipe leak, which flooded the reactor compartment with sea water. The reactor was shut down and the compartment pumped dry and after a clean-up of the compartment, the reactor was taken under power again.<ref name="hennp356–357">{{Harvnb|Hennessy|Jinks|2016|pp=356–357}}</ref> ''Valiant'' took part in the [[Falklands War]] in 1982, arriving in the war zone on 17 May.<ref>{{Harvnb|Middlebrook|2012|p=194}}</ref> She transmitted more than 300 early air-warning alerts and spent 101 days on patrol off Argentina's [[Patagonia]]n coast. On 23 May,<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Jinks |first1=James |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=miP3BgAAQBAJ&dq=hms+valiant+submarine+damaged+falklands&pg=PR126 |title=The Silent Deep: The Royal Navy Submarine Service Since 1945 |last2=Hennessy |first2=Peter |publisher=Penguin UK |year=2015 |isbn=978-0-14-197370-8 |language=en}}</ref> ''Valiant'' suffered minor damage while submerged off [[Río Grande, Tierra del Fuego|Rio Grande]] when an Argentine fighter coming back from a mission jettisoned its bombs near the submarine in order to secure a safe landing.<ref>[[Rupert Allason|West, Nigel]] (2010). ''Historical Dictionary of Naval Intelligence''. Scarecrow Press, pp. [https://books.google.com/books?id=mtvdxS_nzTYC 63-64]. {{ISBN|0-8108-6760-5}}</ref>
{{stack|[[File:hms valiant2006.jpg|250px|thumb|''Valiant'' at HMNB Devonport Navy Days on 26 August 2006]]}}

In November 2010, it was reported in [[Hansard]] that ''Valiant'' had run aground in the [[Norwegian Sea|North Norwegian Sea]] in March 1991.<ref>[https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201011/cmhansrd/cm101102/text/101102w0001.htm#10110298000032 Commons Debate, 2 November 2010]</ref>

Following the development of engine trouble {{Citation needed|date=May 2011}} in June 1994, she was paid off on 12 August 1994.

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

''Courageous'' was selected for the [[museum ship]] to represent the SSN fleet of the Royal Navy during the [[Cold War]]. Components were removed from ''Valiant'' to restore ''Courageous''.{{Citation needed|date=March 2008}}

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==Bibliography==

*{{cite book|last=Ballantyne|first=Iain|title=Hunter Killers: The Dramatic Untold Story of the Royal Navy's Most Secret Service|year=2014|publisher=Orion|location=London|isbn=978-1-4091-3901-0}}
*{{cite book|last1=Hennessy|first1=Peter|last2=Jinks|first2=James|title=The Silent Deep: The Royal Navy Submarine Service since 1945 |year=2016 |publisher=Penguin|isbn=978-0-241-95948-0}}
*{{cite book|last=Middlebrook|first=Martin|title=The Falklands War|year=2012|publisher=Pen & Sword Military|location=Barnsley, UK|isbn=978-1-84884-636-4}}
*{{cite book|editor-last=Moore|editor-first=John|year=1982|title= Janes Fighting Ships 1982–83|publisher=Jane's Publishing|page=547|isbn=0-7106-0742-3}}

{{Valiant class submarine}}
{{Falklands War British ships}}
{{1982 shipwrecks}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Valiant (S102)}}
[[Category:Valiant-class submarines]]
[[Category:Falklands War naval ships of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in 1982]]
[[Category:1963 ships]]
[[Category:Cold War submarines of the United Kingdom]]