HMS Tireless (S88)

HMS Tireless (S88) at the North Pole, April 2004
History
United Kingdom
Name:	HMS Tireless
Ordered:	5 July 1979
Builder:	Vickers Shipbuilding and Engineering, Barrow-in-Furness
Laid down:	6 June 1981
Launched:	17 March 1984
Sponsored by:	Sue Squires
Commissioned:	5 October 1985
Decommissioned:	19 June 2014
Homeport:	HMNB Devonport, Plymouth
Identification:	Pennant number: S88
Status:	Decommissioned
Badge:
General characteristics
Class and type:	Trafalgar-class submarine
Displacement:	Surfaced: 4,500 to 4,800 t (4,700 long tons; 5,300 short tons) Submerged: 5,200 to 5,300 t (5,200 long tons; 5,800 short tons)
Length:	85.4 m (280 ft)
Beam:	9.8 m (32 ft)
Draught:	9.5 m (31 ft)
Propulsion:	1 × Rolls Royce PWR1 nuclear reactor 2 × GEC steam turbines 2 × WH Allen turbo generators; 3.2 MW 2 × Paxman diesel alternators 2,800 shp (2.1 MW) 1 × pump jet propulsor 1 × motor for emergency drive 1 × auxiliary retractable prop
Speed:	Over 30 knots (56 km/h), submerged
Range:	Unlimited
Complement:	130
Electronic warfare & decoys:	2 × SSE Mk8 launchers for Type 2066 and Type 2071 torpedo decoys RESM Racal UAP passive intercept CESM Outfit CXA SAWCS decoys carried from 2002
Armament:	5 × 21-inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes with stowage for up to 30 weapons: Tomahawk Block IV cruise missiles Spearfish heavyweight torpedoes

HMS Tireless was the third Trafalgar-class nuclear submarine of the Royal Navy. Tireless is the second submarine of the Royal Navy to bear this name. Launched in March 1984, Tireless was sponsored by Sue Squires, wife of Admiral 'Tubby' Squires, and commissioned in October 1985.

During the Cold War Tireless was primarily involved in anti-submarine warfare patrols in the Atlantic Ocean. After the Cold War, Tireless was deployed around the world, including to the Arctic Ocean, Mediterranean Sea and Pacific Ocean. At the end of its career, Tireless was involved in the search for the missing airliner, Malaysia Airlines Flight 370. The vessel experienced a number of serious accidents during its operational life.

Tireless had been scheduled for retirement during 2013, but its service was extended until eventual decommissioning on 19 June 2014. Tireless will be replaced on active duty by HMS Artful.

From commissioning in 1985, Tireless completed numerous exercises and visits around the world, including a trip to the Arctic in 1991, before entering a refit in early 1996, returning to sea in 1999.

In May 2000, Tireless developed a serious leak in the nuclear reactor primary cooling circuit, although there was no leak of radioactive material. The nuclear propulsion system was shut down and using backup diesel power Tireless made way to Gibraltar. The damage was found to be more extensive than first thought, and the boat remained there pending repairs. This created diplomatic tension between Spain and Britain, until the submarine departed on 7 May 2001 after almost a year of extensive repairwork. During that year, all Trafalgar-class submarines were inspected for similar problems.