Victoria-class submarine
HMCS Victoria near Bangor, Washington
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| Class overview | |
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| Name: |
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| Builders: | VSEL & Cammell Laird |
| Operators: | |
| Preceded by: | Oberon class |
| In commission: |
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| Planned: | 12 |
| Completed: | 4 |
| Active: | 4 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type: | Submarine |
| Displacement: | 2,455 tonnes (2,416 long tons) |
| Length: | 70.26 metres (230.5 ft) |
| Beam: | 7.2 metres (24 ft) |
| Draught: | 7.6 metres (25 ft) |
| Propulsion: |
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| Speed: |
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| Range: | 8,000 nmi (15,000 km; 9,200 mi) |
| Complement: | 48 |
| Sensors and processing systems: |
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| Armament: | 6 x 21 in (533 mm) torpedo tubes (18 Mark 48 torpedoes) |
The Upholder/Victoria-class submarines, also known as the Type 2400 (due to their displacement of 2,400 tonnes), are diesel-electric fleet submarines designed in the UK in the late 1970s to supplement the Royal Navy's nuclear submarine force. They were decommissioned with the end of the Cold War after a short length of service in the Royal Navy. In 1998, Canada purchased the submarines and a suite of trainers from the Royal Navy to replace the decommissioned Oberon class of submarines. In Canadian service they have been beset with problems and operational incidents that have limited their active service.
In the late 1970s the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence (MoD) proposed a diesel-electric submarine design to replace the Oberon class. The new submarine class was intended to provide a more cost-effective alternative for training and in coastal defence. The announcement for the new design took place in September 1979. Five designs were put forward, with the MoD selecting the 1,960-ton design. However, the need for export potential upped the displacement limit to 2,400 tons to allow for flexibility in construction if the need for alternative machinery and systems arose.
The Vickers Shipbuilding & Engineering Ltd. (VSEL) Type 2400 diesel-electric patrol submarine design was selected. The design displaces between 2,168–2,220 tons surfaced and 2,400–2,455 tons submerged. The submarines are 230 feet 7 inches (70.28 m) long overall with a beam of 25 feet (7.6 m) and a draught of 17 feet 8 inches (5.38 m). The submarines had a complement between 44 and 47 with the Royal Navy.
The submarines have a single-skinned, teardrop-shaped hull constructed from NQ1 high tensile steel. The hull is fitted with elastomeric acoustic tiles to reduce the submarine's acoustic signature. The class has a reported dive depth of over 650 feet (200 m).
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